Imagine walking into an area that’s gently dimmed with blue lights, decorated in minimalist décor and leafy florae. The music is gently playing in the background at a relaxing beat and you can smell the essential oils which instantly bring you peace and serenity. You sit down to have a detox tea in your comforting robe and soft slippers. Your five scenes are ignited and you’re just about to say goodbye to all your pains and aches.
Injuries are a frustrating and common, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the rehabilitation. That’s exactly what I did at CryoSpa Canberra.
Whether you love to train at the gym, play a sport or dance – it’s likely that you have experienced some pain. The last time you hurt yourself, you probably already included cryotherapy in your recovery when you applied an ice pack to an injured area. Although ice packs are the most common treatment, a new method of cryotherapy uses a high-tech approach.
My previous post, Cryotherapy for Bridal Prep, discussed benefits of this treatment to achieve the ultimate bridal glow. This time around, I went to CryoSpa Canberra purely to fix my running injuries sustained over many years. So, read on for my experience of trying out spot Cryotherapy and whole body cryo treatments!
Whole Body vs. Localised Cryotherapy
Whole body cryotherapy
Whole body cryotherapy takes place in a capsule, with your head floating above and away from the nitrogen that blows onto your body. Minimal clothing is required and all piercings and metal should be removed from the body. During a whole body treatment:
- Liquid nitrogen is released to cool the skin
- Pressure inside the chamber drops to further reduce temperature (up to -160!)
- The temperature is maintained for about 3 minutes
The whole body cryo experience can be customised and temperatures can be changed to suit each individual. For a cryo experience without nitrogen, Cryo Artic saunas disperse cold air over your entire body and head. This is great to get an all-round treatment and is available at Wellness Empowerment Collective in Lyneham, Canberra.
Localised cryotherapy
Localised cryotherapy streamlines the procedure direct to an injured area by reducing blood flow to lessen inflammation. These spot treatments may be performed alone or as an addition to whole body cryo. Personally, I had a fantastic experience with spot cryotherapy after just 1 session. Local cryo is great to:
- Ease pain
- Help prevent lasting damage
- Lower the potential risks of being exposed to below-freezing temperatures
Many people also find local cryotherapy treatments to be more comfortable and convenient. The use of more compact equipment keeps the cost down, and targeting a particular area may provide greater benefits for the injured body part.
With many years of running behind me, I have acquired tares and permanent damage to my ankle and lower legs. Following my treatment, my legs felt the lightest in YEARS! I would definitely go back and use this as ongoing therapy for recovery and hopefully reverse the damage in my legs.
How does it work?
So how does cryo work? By promoting circulation and a heightening the nervous system response, inflammation is reduced and injuries are healed faster. A boost in metabolic rate may also allow the body to “clean up” damaged tissue more quickly. Taken together, these effects can result in faster recovery, less pain, reduced muscle soreness and an earlier return to your favourite activities.
Cryotherapy is a familiar option for sports injuries, and modern methods may make the treatment more effective. Getting a localised treatment from a knowledgeable provider with the right equipment ensures you receive just the right amount of cold to address your injury and get you back in the your routine faster than traditional methods.
If you’re in Canberra, I would highly recommend CryoSpa Canberra who have extensive experience treating sporting injuries. Their staff worked with professional athletes and other experts in the field and provide valuable advice for your road to recovery.
I’ll definitely be back!
Natalia
