Over the past decade Cryotherapy has seen a massive growth in popularity as a treatment for health, beauty and medical procedures. But cold therapy is nothing new — its roots go back to ancient times.
Learn about the mechanisms and benefits of cryotherapy, and how its use and mode of delivery have evolved over human history.
Cold Therapy Mechanisms of Action
Icing an injury is a common-sense remedy known to numb pain and reduce inflammation. But few people understand exactly how applying cold to damaged tissues works at the cellular level.
Cold therapy reduces the temperature of injured tissues, triggering multiple healing mechanisms:
- Decreasing the temperature of skin and soft tissues triggers a vasoconstrictive (vessel narrowing) reflex, to restrict blood flow to damaged tissues.
- The delivery of inflammatory mediators is thwarted.
- Inflammation is reduced, taking pressure off nerves and surrounding tissues.
- Oxygen demand is decreased in cooled cells, preventing secondary hypoxic damage.
- Cold-induced neuropraxia occurs, lowering the activation threshold of nociceptors and slowing sensory nerve conduction.
- The spinal cord reflex loop is inhibited, relieving muscle spasms.
Applying cold in the early stages of tissue damage prevents further damage and reduces pain and swelling, giving your body a chance to set healing mechanisms in motion. In addition to injury treatment, cold therapy is known to elevate mood, improve skin tone and promote restful sleep.
Cryotherapy has multiple applications and benefits including:
- Numbs pain receptors at the site of injury
- Serves as an analgesic for acute traumatic injuries
- Reduces inflammation in soft-tissue injuries
- Soothes nerve pain from herniated discs
- Flushes toxins and fluids from superficial skin layers
- Accelerates the elimination of metabolic waste after sports and exercise
- Used in medical procedures to to freeze and remove abnormal tissue
- Used to treat skin conditions like warts and skin tags
- Used as a treatment for prostate, cervical and liver cancer
- Helps to manage stress
- Releases endorphins elevate mood
- Improves sleep
With so many benefits, it’s no wonder humanity has embraced cryotherapy as a health remedy for centuries.
A Brief History of Cryotherapy
History is only as accurate as the resources preserved from times past, and more historical accounts are likely lost than preserved. Yet we still have a deep well of evidence to chronicle the use of cryotherapy over time, from antiquity to today.
Cold therapy in ancient times
The earliest record of cold-water immersion dates back to 3500 BC, found in an ancient Egyptian papyrus purchased in the 1800s by Edwin Smith. The papyrus makes numerous references to cold therapy. In ancient Greece, cold-water immersion was used for therapy, and also for relaxation and socializing.
In the fourth century BC, Hippocrates documented the use of cryotherapy as a medical treatment, and as an analgesic to numb pain. He discusses cold therapy in his work “On Airs, Waters and Places,” where he proclaims, “Water can cure everything.” And in the 100s AD, Claudius Galen, Roman physician to the gladiators, advocated for cold therapy to treat fever.
Cryotherapy during the Era of Enlightenment
In the 1800s, the work of physiologist James Currie encompassed cold water therapy for the treatment of fever. He also investigated and documented the impact of cold therapy on body temperature, heart rate and respiration. He carried out numerous experiments on cold water therapy in his “Water Cure Establishment.”
Cryo in the 20th Century
In the 1930s, physician Edgar A. Hines developed the Cold-Pressor Response Test to study blood pressure variability in response to cold water immersion in patients with hypertension. His studies showed that immersing the hands in cold water triggered a sympathetic nervous system response, eliciting an increase in blood pressure. The cold pressor response gave scientists a deeper understanding of how cold immersion affects the autonomic nervous system, and offered further insight into the parasympathetic response in divers that can cause cardiac arrhythmia.
In the 1960s, D H Clarke investigated cold water immersion as a therapy for post-exercise recovery. and in the 1970s, Dr. Gabe Mirkin, MD coined the acronym RICE — rest, ice, compression elevation — as a recommended treatment for soft tissue injuries and exercise recovery. The acronym was later changed to PRICE — protect, rest, ice, compression, elevation.
In the 1980s, Prof. Mike Tipton conducted research about cold shock responses and adaptation during cold-water exposure, and the impact of different types of clothing. During the fitness craze of the 1990s, much research was conducted on functional, inflammatory and psychophysical responses after cold water immersion, and its impact on physical performance recovery.
Cryotherapy in the Digital Age
In the age of technology, cold therapy is still going strong as a popular way to relax, rejuvenate and recover. Today, Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof is almost a cult icon when it comes to cold exposure, earning him the nickname “Iceman.” In addition to breaking multiple cold exposure records, he is a popular guest on TV shows and health podcasts, with a large following of the world’s coolest fans.
While not a new concept, cold plunge tanks and pools have recently become must-have accessories in the homes of fitness-minded health enthusiasts. But the price of installation, space requirements and cost of maintaining a cold plunge at optimal temperatures can be prohibitive for many homeowners, and impractical for renters. In addition, many people shudder at the prospect of immersing their body in icy cold water for a long period of time.
Technology comes to the rescue of those who want the benefits of cryotherapy without the expense and discomfort of a cold plunge. New delivery mechanisms harness the power of nitrogen gas to administer an icy-cold blast to the skin’s surface.
Unlike ice baths and cold plunges, cryotherapy takes just a few minutes of exposure to get the same results, with minimal discomfort. Whole body cryotherapy uses a cryo chamber to expose the entire body to cold, while localized cryotherapy directs a focused stream of cold gas to targeted tissues.
Modern nitrogen-based cryotherapy is also finding its place in medicine as a treatment and procedure for a broad range of conditions, including:
- Removal of warts and skin tags
- Treatment of oral skin lesions
- Treatment of prostate, cervical and liver cancer
- Treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries
- Assistance in post-surgical recovery
The Future of Cryotherapy
With its long standing track record of success and popularity, the future looks bright for cryotherapy and cryo technology. For example, cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) is becoming a mainstream technology for studying the architecture of cells. And cryotherapy holds promise as a tool for a variety of surgical procedures. At the same time, cold therapy will no doubt remain a favorite recovery tool for athletes and physically active populations for years to come.
Get Fast and Effective Cryotherapy in NYC
You may not be ready to take a plunge in ice water, but you can still reap all the benefits of cold therapy in a fraction of time. InVita Wellness offers whole body and local cryotherapy services, along with CryoFacial, a luxury spa service that takes facial care to a whole new level.
With affordable prices and our convenient Midtown location, InVita Wellness is the clinic of choice for cryotherapy and IV nutrient therapy in Manhattan. Contact InVita Wellness today, and enjoy the many benefits of cryotherapy without taking a cold plunge.
Resources
Allan, Robert, et al. “Cold for centuries: a brief history of cryotherapies to improve health, injury and post-exercise recovery.” European journal of applied physiology 122.5 (2022): 1153-1162.
Malanga, Gerard A., Ning Yan, and Jill Stark. “Mechanisms and efficacy of heat and cold therapies for musculoskeletal injury.” Postgraduate medicine 127.1 (2015): 57-65.
