Inflammation is a normal part of recovering from an injury. Too much inflammation or having inflammation without a known cause, however, can instead hinder your recovery.
The upside is, inflammation can be reduced with whole-body cryotherapy. Cryotherapy is one of the most popular wellness services we offer at our facility. Read on to learn how it can help target inflammation directly and indirectly.
Reduces Inflammatory Markers
One of the direct impacts whole-body cryotherapy has on inflammation is its ability to reduce inflammatory markers in the body. Fewer inflammatory markers, as expected, lead to less inflammation in the body.
The cold air used in cryotherapy directly reduces these inflammatory markers while also encouraging the reproduction of anti-inflammatory proteins. As a result, the body will be able to tackle inflammation on its own.
Improves Circulation
Blood circulation plays a big role in inflammation. Stagnant blood circulation can cause inflammation to linger longer than necessary. It can also make it harder for the immune system to deliver oxygen and other vital nutrients to the site in need of repair.
Whole-body cryotherapy initially causes the blood vessels to narrow during the session. However, once the session ends and the user warms back up, their blood vessels rapidly expand. This quickly generates blood flow throughout the body, which can boost nutrient delivery to damaged areas and flush out waste products linked to inflammation.
Enhances Mental Wellness
Whole-body cryotherapy doesn’t just tackle inflammation directly. It can also tackle it indirectly as well. It does this by improving your mental wellness – particularly by reducing your stress levels.
With cryotherapy’s ability to reduce stress hormones in the body, this can create an environment easier for the body to heal itself. Shifting into a calmer state allows the body to focus on repairing injured muscles and inflamed tissues. Less stress also means fewer tense muscles, which would otherwise contribute to inflammation.
Drains Toxins in the Body
Everyone is exposed to toxins daily. Toxins can come from stress, air pollution, household cleaning products, personal care products, and processed foods and drinks. While coming in contact with toxins is inevitable, a buildup of toxins in the body can lead to inflammation.
Fortunately, whole-body cryotherapy can help encourage lymphatic drainage. When waste products are able to properly drain, this can reduce swelling. In turn, this can help improve muscle soreness, stiffness, and blood circulation throughout the body.
Supports the Immune System
The immune system plays a crucial role in inflammation. This system in your body intentionally triggers inflammation to promote healing. However, if your body struggles to keep inflammation under control, this can lead to a host of symptoms like delayed healing and pain in the area of the swelling.
The brief exposure to extreme cold via cryotherapy can boost the immune system. It can stimulate white blood cell activity, improve blood flow to encourage oxygen delivery, and boost the body’s natural inflammation blockers. It can also reduce excess stress hormones, which can otherwise have a negative impact on immunity.
Considering adding cryotherapy to your recovery routine? At Recovery Lab, we have both whole-body and localized cryotherapy. Call us today to book your first appointment with us!
