Cumming Cryotherapy Center

Cryotherapy

happy patient in Cumming GA

The basic building material of our muscles, tendons and ligaments is collagen protein. This protein acts like a rubber band between the tendon and the bone. However, injury (such as over-pulling the muscle) can cause collagen to tear. Blood vessels, fluid and torn blood cells escape into the muscle fibers, visible as a swollen, bruised area.

Applying cold to the affected area slows down the fluid and slows down the chemicals that cause pain and inflammation. Cold numbs the nerve endings and reduces their ability to conduct impulses, so there's fewer pain impulses going back and forth between the brain and the affected area. Colder temperatures also reduce internal bleeding because the cellular activity will decrease. By cooling the deep tissue and prevention contractions, applying cold to injuries also reduces muscle spasms.

The use of cold as a form of therapy is known as cryotherapy. Cryotherapy was first introduced to the whole body in 1980 in Japan. Cryotherapy (from Greek words "cryo" meaning cold and "therapy", meaning cure). Cryotherapy occurs in extreme temperatures of negative 76 to negative one hundred sixty-six degrees Fahrenheit. Ultimately, cryotherapy can help the body recover more quickly from injury.

Benefits of Cryotherapy

The benefits of cryoptherapy are:

  • Pain relief
  • Decrease in inflammation
  • decreased spasming
  • increase blood delivery to damaged tissue

In the colder temperatures, blood vessels constrict, forming a protective layer to maintain the body's core temperature.

What are the types of Cryotherapy?

Ice bags

Use a simple container such as a plastic bag, a hot water bottle, cold packs or a package of frozen vegetables. Dry the affected area. Put a towel over the affected area - you don't want the cold source to come into direct contact with the skin. Apply the cold source for approximately 20 minutes. The skin should pass through the sensations of 1) cold 2) burning 3) aching and 4) numbness. When the skin gets numb, it's time to stop the cryotherapy.

Ice massage
Ice massage is another cyrotherapy technique. You add ice into a foam cup and let it freeze. Then with the top off the cup, you massage the cup onto your painful area in a circular motion. You shouldn't hold ice in one area for more than 3 minutes to avoid frostbite. Again, when the skin gets numb, it's time to stop the cryotherapy.

The Advantages of these two techniques:

  1. Materials are readily available
  2. Typically inexpensive
  3. Good for almost all minor injuries

The Disadvantages of these techniques:

  1. Difficult to keep ice in place
  2. Ice melts and makes a mess
  3. Ice has a limited surface area it can cover
  4. Can only be applied for short periods of time (10-20 minutes).

Cryotherapy can be very beneficial for all minor injuries. Contact Backsmart Chiropractic for your assessment today.

Chiropractic Cumming GA Backsmart Health Chiropractic

Cryotherapy

OFFICE HOURS


Monday
10:00am - 1:00pm
3:00pm - 6:00pm


Tuesday
Closed


Wednesday
10:00am - 1:00pm
3:00pm - 6:00pm


Thursday
10:00am - 1:00pm
3:00pm - 6:00pm


Friday
10:00am - 1:00pm


Saturday
Closed

Backsmart Health Chiropractic
5610 Bethelview Road #300A
Cumming, GA 30040
(770) 888-4288