Cryotherapy

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?

Cryotherapy