Cryotherapy is using extreme cold to freeze and stop abnormal tissue. Doctors are using this as a treatment for many skin conditions, such as:
- Warts
- Skin tags
- Cancers (prostate, Cervical and liver cancer)
The treatment is called cryoablation. There are14 Amazing Benefits of Cryotherapy proved effective and best for the following:
- Treat skin conditions
- Cancer
- Muscle
- Ligament pain
- Migraines
- Mood disorders
- Nerve issues
Why do doctors use cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a minimally invasive therapy. The type of treatment eliminates diseased and damaged tissue from various medical conditions. The cryotherapy is done without an open surgery. Most people can recover fast from the procedure and with a bit of pain. Cryotherapy is recommended for the following health conditions:
- Bone cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Precancerous skin conditions
- Precancerous cells in the cervix
- Skin conditions
- Retinoblastoma
What happens during cryotherapy?
When you have external cryotherapy, the healthcare provider applies the cold with a cotton swab or spraying device. The providers use liquid nitrogen for the treatment. For internal cryotherapy, the cryoprobe will be inserted by a small incision into the skin. The healthcare provider uses ultrasound imaging to guide the cryoprobe to the issue for it to get frozen.
It depends on the abnormal cells’ location, you may be given local anesthesia or general anesthesia. The local anesthesia numbs specific spots, while the general anesthesia is used during the surgeries for the patient to sleep during the procedure.
Whole-body cryotherapy
The whole-body cryotherapy helps with pain from sports injuries for the following medical conditions:
- Cryotherapy brings the skin and muscle temperature down. It helps with swelling and pain. The effect is the same as a cold compress or using ice packs.
- Recovery from exercise. Cryotherapy reduces soreness after the workout. It doesn’t improve exercise performance for the next workout and doesn’t reduce the amount of muscle damage caused by intense exercise.
- Joint conditions. Cryotherapy is helpful for frozen shoulders. It is a condition where the shoulder locks up and does not move.
Benefits of cryotherapy
There is much anecdotal evidence and research that cryotherapy offers health benefits. But, whole-body cryotherapy is being researched. The healthcare professional helps figure out what is right for you. Cryotherapy means cold therapy, is a technique where the body is exposed to extreme cold temperatures for several minutes.
Cryotherapy is delivered to one area or you can have whole-body cryotherapy. Localized cryotherapy is administered in various ways, including:
- ice packs
- ice massage
- coolant sprays
- ice bath
The theory for whole-body cryotherapy is immersing the body in extreme cold air for various minutes, and you can receive several health benefits. A person can stand in an enclosed chamber or small enclosure surrounding the body but have an opening for the head at the top. The enclosure drops to between negative 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. They will stay in ultra-low temperature air for between 2 and 4 minutes.
You can get benefits from one cryotherapy session, but it is most effective when used regularly. Some athletes are using cryotherapy two times a day. The others go daily for 10 days and once a month afterwards.
