Most people have seen the pictures of hardy individuals plunging into icy waters in just brief swimwear. The bathers swear that the experience makes their minds sharper, improves their physical health, and increases their life expectancy. This is a form of cryotherapy, but most have their first experiences with the trend at spas around the country. It usually involves immersing themselves in tanks of freezing water for a period of three to five minutes. There are ice water facials. Sometimes the freezing water is applied to specific joints to relieve pain.
Care must be taken not to stay too long in the freezing water. Falling asleep must be avoided. Overexposure to the icy conditions is dangerous and can be fatal. This therapy is not for everyone. Women who are pregnant, children, and those with a history of heart conditions and high blood pressure are not candidates for the therapy. The first experience can be unsettling. It can take several sessions to become accustomed to the icy temperatures.
Some believe this therapy is helpful for relieving the pain and ache of muscle and joint conditions like arthritis. It may be helpful to speed up the recovery time for sports injuries. For many years doctors have recommended ice packs to reduce the pain caused by over exercising and simple muscle pain. Studies on the benefits for relieving muscle pain using this method have had mixed results.
Some argue that the therapy benefits those who want to lose weight. They say the body will burn calories in an effort to get warmer. Others believe that the therapy makes maintaining a fitness routine easier because it reduces aches and pains. If it is true, as some believe, that the technique reduces inflammation, that may make exercising easier because there is less pain in the joints and muscles.
There is some research emerging that suggests the therapy has mental health benefits. Symptoms of depression and anxiety have been reduced in about thirty percent of afflicted individuals who tried the technique. While the problems did not disappear completely, they were reduced by about fifty percent. These numbers are significantly better than for those who did not try the technique.
Eczema is an inflammation of the skin. Many of those who have tried cryotherapy to relieve the symptoms of this condition saw significant improvement. Some found they developed frostbite.
There is some evidence to support the claims that cryotherapy reduces the pain caused by migraines. This is not a cure for migraines, but can make the condition a little more bearable. At the present time, there is not enough research to know exactly how beneficial the technique is, and more study is necessary.
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