Whole Body Cryotherapy vs. Ice Bath

Patient's feelings in Cryosauna are dependent on gas temperature. Based on the temperature range there are 3 groups of procedures:

• Extreme Cryotherapy - gas temperature is lower than

-160 °C (-250 °F)

• Normal Cryotherapy - from -160 °C to -130 °C

(-250 °F to -200 °F)

• Low temperature hypothermia - is higher than -130 °C

(-200 °F)

Feelings under Extreme Cryotherapy are almost the same as swimming in the icy water. Normal Cryotherapy is 3 times more comfortable. Under low temperature hypothermia and the discomfort are much less. It is necessary to note that the discomfort from the contact with cooling gas is not related to medical effect provided. Signals that are triggering immune system mobilization extend to the other parts of central nervous system.

The key difference is the temperature of the environment, the skin surface temperature, and the speed of the reduction of the skin surface temperature. In an ice bath the temperature can only reach 7°C/45°F while the temperature in a cryosauna can reach -170°C/-270°F. This means that skin surface temperature in an ice bath can only reach 5°C/41°F after a wet, prolonged, and often painful session while skin surface temperature in the cryosauna reaches -1°C/30°F in just 30-40 seconds and the total length of time the skin is exposed to this invigorating, dry, temperature is never more than 3 minutes.

During an ice bath, tissue begins to freeze and muscles temporarily lose capacity. Muscle tissue then needs time to return to normal which requires the body to rest. Therefore, an ice bath must be scheduled at the end of a rigorous workout so the participant can recuperate overnight. In contrast, the cryosauna does not actually freeze muscle tissue. It only creates a powerful illusion that the body freezes. In fact, upon exit from the cryousauna, the blood flow back to the peripheral tissues warms the muscles almost immediately. Accordingly, the participant may use the cryosauna both before and after a workout which is an effect that is impossible to realize with an ice bath.