Cryosauna: what does cold therapy consist of and what is it for
For some years now, an aesthetic medicine treatment has started from the United States to conquer the world and bears the name of cryosauna. Forget traditional saunas: this therapy, in fact, uses the freezing cold to purify the body, intensify blood circulation and stimulate the immune system. All you need is the courage and the temper to expose yourself to a temperature below -100 ° C for 3 minutes to find out on your body the benefits guaranteed by this systemic therapy. If you are curious to find out what a cryosauna actually consists of and all the information about it, you just have to read this article. But, first of all , answer this question: can you tolerate low temperatures?
Before getting into reading, watch this video and find out how to counteract the signs of aging on your face!
So is the cryosauna
Cryosauna, better known as whole-body cryotherapy, is an aesthetic medicine treatment that consists in exposing the body to extremely low temperatures, which can drop below -100 degrees, for between 2 and 3 minutes. to undergo a systemic cryotherapy session, it is necessary to go to a qualified medical or aesthetic center, where the cryosauna is carried out inside a cabin on the upper end of which there is an "opening from which the head and torso come out.
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What is the cryosauna for?
A treatment such as systemic cryotherapy can have several functions including: increasing blood oxygenation, intensifying blood circulation, stimulating the immune system, toning the tissues and carrying out an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and relaxing action on muscles and joints. Therefore, the cryosauna aims to preserve the state of health and well-being of the body at 360 °.
How the cryosauna works
The administration of the cryosauna takes place inside a cylindrical steel equipment, also known as a cryogenic chamber, from whose upper opening only the head and torso emerge. The person who undergoes a systemic cryotherapy session wears only gloves, socks and underwear in order to protect the areas of the body where the skin is most delicate and sensitive to cold. Once inside the cabin, the patient is enveloped in a cloud of liquid nitrogen which drastically reduces the temperature, reaching a value between -110 and -160 ° C in just 30/45 seconds. Since the human body cannot tolerate such low temperatures for too long, the treatment cannot last more than 3 minutes. At this point, the therapy is followed by an acclimatization phase which consists of performing some physical exercises such as gymnastics or the stationary bike which, performed for about fifteen minutes, help the body to warm up and reactivate circulation.
The principle behind the cryosauna is the beneficial effect found by the human body when subjected to a thermal shock of this type. A phase of vasoconstriction, recorded during exposure to cold, is followed by a vasodilation phase, triggered by the restoration of regular temperature. This alternation, which mainly affects blood circulation, causes the increase in blood flow in the vessels to correspond to a greater amount of oxygen in the tissues. This process also favors the elimination of waste and some toxic metabolites such as lactic acid.
The benefits of systemic cryotherapy
There are many health benefits attributed to the cryosauna. Some argue, in fact, that it significantly improves the quality of sleep, others that it makes you lose weight and reduces the signs of cellulite. To date, there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the benefits that are often and willingly associated with systemic cryotherapy. It is not clear, in fact, whether certain beneficial effects are due solely and exclusively to the cryosauna or to the combined action of this treatment and other therapies. In general, we can say that subjecting our body to a temperature change of these ranges can be useful for several reasons, namely:
- reduces muscle pain
- prevents cramps
- protects the body from the action of free radicals, which are also responsible for premature cell aging
- relax your muscles
- optimizes recovery times after intense physical activity
- speeds up the healing process following injuries
- performs an anti-edematous action
Who is the cryosauna recommended for?
As we have emphasized several times in this article, systemic cryotherapy is known for its pain-relieving and analgesic effects on the muscular system and that is why it is particularly recommended for those suffering from certain syndromes or diseases such as:
- arthritic-rheumatic diseases
- diabetes
- pathologies of the musculoskeletal system
- dermatological diseases such as psoriasis and atomic dermatitis
- painful fatigue syndrome
In general, cryosauna is a very popular treatment among those who practice sports at a competitive level as it helps the body recover from prolonged exertion and speeds up healing times following injuries, strains or other injuries.
Contraindications
Before being sure of being able to undergo a cryotherapy session, it is necessary to contact your doctor and carry out a series of preliminary tests such as the electrocardiogram to verify that the patient's state of health is compatible with this treatment. Generally, the cryosauna is not recommended or totally contraindicated in these situations:
- presence of wounds on the skin
- excessive sensitivity to cold
- hypothyroidism
- diseases of the cardiovascular system
- pregnancy and breastfeeding
- age under 16 and over 65
Is the cryosauna dangerous?
If performed after passing all the diagnostic tests prescribed by the doctor, systemic cryotherapy is not dangerous. In addition, the cabin in which liquid nitrogen is released is equipped with a magnetic closure that can also be opened from inside in case the patient cannot tolerate the cold. Only in rare cases, some side effects may occur, such as:
- Headache
- Cold urticaria
- Paniccolite
- Generic pain
It should be emphasized once again how essential it is to turn to specialized structures where it is possible to count on an expert and trained medical staff.
Cryosauna: how many sessions are needed?
Usually, a single cryosauna session is not enough to have the desired effects. In order for the therapy to be truly effective, it is necessary to undergo it several times over time. The number of sessions is established by the specialist based on the condition and needs of the client.
How much does the cryosauna cost?
The price of the cryosauna varies at the discretion of the beauty center and the rate usually varies between 50 and 100 euros per session. At the moment, the treatment is not yet covered by the National Health Service.
