Cryotherapy has been around for a long time but lately there is a newer craze called Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC). With this therapy you stand in a chamber that is extremely cold from negative 75 degrees to negative 166 Fahrenheit for a up to 3 minutes. Many claims are being made that are unsubstantiated. There is not a lot of
research that shows the effectiveness of Whole Body Cryotherapy. The facts are studies show WBC induces tissue-temperature reductions that are comparable to or LESS SIGNIFICANT than traditional forms of cryotherapy.
World renowned Dr. Andrew Weil wrote an article recently discussing whole body cryotherapy: Cryotherapy Chambers: The New Big Chill? Read the article by clicking the title. It discusses the therapy in more detail, what you have to do and includes many of the risks. He concludes to be wary of whole body cryotherapy!
A recent study Whole-Body Cryotherapy: Empirical Evidence and Theoretical Perspectives was published in Open Access Journal of Sports Med. They state little proven benefits and since many athletes are subject to the marketing of this treatment: “until further research is available, athletes should remain cognizant that less expensive modes of cryotherapy, such as local ice-pack application or cold-water immersion, offer comparable physiological and clinical effects to WBC.”
In other words, instead of going to some practitioner who paid for an overpriced large body freezer so he can charge you for it, Whole Body Cryotherapy as of now is just another of the latest, expensive fads to charge more money. Rather than waste your time and money, stay at home, open your freezer and put some ice on it.
We believe in using treatments and therapies that are backed by current valid studies. Many passive therapies like whole body cryotherapy or ice therapy can be benefited at the comfort of your home without having to come and pay a practitioner extra money. Even insurances consider it experimental and will not cover the treatment.
At our Freehold chiropractic office we use more active therapies to correct the cause of your problems, not just passive therapies which at best might mask your symptoms. Make sure to be informed of the true aspects of treatment being performed on you.