Cryotherapy or Mild Cooling Devices?
Cryotherapy, also called Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC), is currently being offered by clinicians as an alternative to cold water immersion or ice packs. Administered through the use of a cryogenic chamber, WBC is a treatment whereby the patient is placed in a cryogenic chamber for a short duration (i.e. no more than three minutes, which is comparable to ice swimming), and if used properly, will not destroy tissue. Whole body cryotherapy originated in Japan in 1978. However, it was a group of Polish scientists who took the idea and made whole body cryotherapy the physical therapy it is today.
The chamber is cooled, typically with liquid nitrogen, usually to a temperature of −120 °C (−184 °F)—although temperatures of −140 °C (−220 °F) or even −160 °C (−256 °F) have been used. The patient is protected from acute frostbite with socks, gloves and mouth and ear protection, but in addition to that, wears nothing but a bathing suit. The patient spends a few minutes in the chamber. During treatment the average skin temperature drops to 12 °C (54 °F), while the coldest skin temperature can be 5 °C (41 °F). The core body temperature remains unchanged during the treatment, however it may drop slightly afterwards. Therapy triggers the release of endorphins which induce analgesia (immediate pain relief).
Patients report that the experience is invigorating and improves a variety of conditions such as psychological stress, insomnia, rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia, itching, and psoriasis. The immediate effect of skin cooling and analgesia lasts for 5 minutes, but the release of endorphins can have a lasting effect, where the pains and signs of inflammation as found in blood tests remain suppressed for weeks.
So why would I use Personal Cooling devices or garments that give me a constant 14-15C Cooling, if I can go to the clinic and get Cryotherapy treatment instead?
Well first of all, Cryotherapy is a lot more expensive than getting your own Personal Cooling Vest (Phase Change cooling or Liquid Circulatory Cooling undergarment). You pay once for the Personal Cooling device to provide you mild cooling and be mobile at the same time or even exercise at the same time! Cryotherapy cant offer that. Also consider this, for those who like the Cryotherapy Chambers, if you don't wear your socks, gloves, swimsuite or protective ear & face gear you can get FROSTBITE!!! That is a terrible risk to take for just 5 minutes!
Also Mild Cooling with Personal Cooling Devices/undergarments is done over a longer period of time and thus the effects last much longer and are the same.
Did I mention that personal cooling devices/products are 100% mobile, meaning that you are not constraint to a small cold chamber wearing gloves and thick socks. Its cheaper, mobile, environmentally friendly and you can use it whenever you like and not have to wait until the cryotherapy shop opens.
Why Environmentally friendly? Well think about the amount of energy required to use a cryotherapy chamber compared to a cooling vest/undergarment.
Thus everyone is left to decide for themselves what they think is the most advantageous for them. However if you need to maintain your well being, weight loss, performance, rejuvenating effects and save big bucks, then you should definitely consider getting in touch with the right people who sell the best Personal Cooling system for your needs and daily routine.
Just keep it real and stay safe.
<--- Phase Change Cooling Vests (14-15C mild cooling) athletic version
<-- Liquid (chilled water) circulatory Cooling undergarment. Both providing constant 14-15C Cooling effect.
Celebrities who can afford most things such as american actor Matt Damon uses a personal Cooling system while working. (CoolShirt Systems - circulatory cooling undergarment) This provides him with a healthy constant cooling while moving around.