Despite cryotherapy being around for several years, there are still plenty of myths around the treatment that exist. In this article, we’re going to look at some of the common cryotherapy myths, and then debunk them with evidence.
At the end of the article, you’ll know the truth about cryotherapy, including what it feels like and how effective it is…
CRYOTHERAPY MYTH 1. - CRYOTHERAPY IS PAINFUL
We’ll start with the common one, that cryotherapy is painful. This is understandable – if you were to exposure your skin to -1-degree Celsius temperatures it’d feel cold. How on earth can exposing your skin to -85 or even -110 degrees Celsius not be absolutely agonising?!
The answer can be found in research by Bleakley et al from 2014. They explained…
Although whole body cryotherapy produces a large temperature gradient for tissue cooling, the relatively poor thermal conductivity of air prevents significant subcutaneous and core body cooling.
During a session your skin will tingle, and you will feel cold, but it’s not painful. You’ll be able to move a little during the session, you’ll be able to talk and keep control over your body.
Of course, if you don’t like the experience, you can always stop it!
CRYOTHERAPY MYTH 2. - IT TAKES A LONG TIME
This is the most surprising of the myths, because it takes almost no time at all to prove it’s not true.
The average session length in the Mecotec Electric Whole Body Cryotherapy chamber is around 3 minutes. You can be in and out of the chamber, treated and done within 10 minutes. It’s really that quick because the temperatures are so low that it gets to work immediately.
It’s such an effective treatment and a unique technology that you don’t need any longer than that to enjoy the benefits of whole-body cryotherapy and for your skin temperature reduction, educing a thermal shock, to be achieved.
CRYOTHERAPY MYTH 3. - CRYOTHERAPY IS DANGEROUS
When people talk about cryotherapy dangers, they’re not looking at the evidence. They’re applying a logic that cold exposure can be dangerous, then assuming that lower temperatures = more danger, which isn’t true.
As we pointed out earlier, although the air is cold, it doesn’t conduct heat or cold energy very well. This means that it doesn’t especially impact core body temperature – it’s a superficial cooling of the skin. This means you don’t have to worry about your internal organs being affected, or your body shutting down.
In rare cases, people with especially low body fat can suffer from temporary peripheral nerve issues, but this is when they’re exposed to the cold for especially long times. With a session length of 3 minutes, this won’t be a problem.
CRYOTHERAPY MYTH 4. - CRYOTHERAPY DOESN’T WORK
Of all the cryotherapy myths, this is the one that is the easiest to disprove.
One of the cryotherapy facts is that it has been successfully used in medicine for decades now, treating a range of ailments. There is also a large body of independent lab research that proves without doubt that whole body cryotherapy is a very effective solution to many physiological issues.
The impact of the therapy varies depending on the condition being treated, but there are proven positive impacts on a range of issues. Inflammation, muscle tissue repair, connective tissue repair, skin health, mental health etc are all improved with regular whole-body cryotherapy.
CRYOTHERAPY MYTH 5. - IT’S AN EXPENSIVE TREATMENT
There’s no standardised price for whole-body cryotherapy. When using a Mecotec electric whole-body cryotherapy chamber, a clinic doesn’t have to pay for expensive liquid nitrogen and the in-direct costs of nitrogen wastage or organising deliveries.
This means they can offer electric whole-body cryotherapy cheaper than other clinics. Depending on where you go, a session will cost between £20 and £40 on average.
When you consider the amount of benefit you get and the speed with which you get it, WBC is a bargain. It offers many benefits, with short treatment time (so doesn’t disrupt your day).
INTERESTED? LEARN MORE…
RP-X are the leading providers of Mecotec electric whole-body cryotherapy units in the UK. We have nearly two decades in the space and offer a wide range of turnkey solutions for facilities looking to invest in this technology.
For more information on cryotherapy chambers, pricing and the right model for you, contact us on info@rp-x.com or 01234 981913.
