Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBCT) was first developed by Dr. Yamauchi in 1978 to treat pain and inflammation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. WBCT now enjoys much more widespread use since research into how it works and its many applications continues…
WBCT is a form of therapy where the whole body is subjected to cryogenic temperatures, which is anything from -120 to -160° Celsius. At CryoLiving the magic happens in an open top Cryosauna.
The extreme temperature tricks the body into a cascade of highly therapeutic physiological effects.
One of the major benefits of this is reduced pain.
Decreased pain happens through a few mechanisms, the first of which is beta-endorphin release. Beta endorphins are powerful pain killers found naturally within the body that also have positive mental effects and tend to be referred to as our “happy hormones”. This reduces anxiety which often goes hand-in hand with chronic pain.
Exposure to the cold also stimulates the large diameter A-fibres in the skin, these sensory nerves conduct impulses faster than the slower conducting C-fibres which carry pain impulses. This brings about a “blocking” of the pain impulses at the level of the spinal cord and thus reduces the number and strength of pain signals being transmitted to the brain.
WBCT results in widespread vaso-constriction (narrowing the blood vessels) as the body attempts to maintain core temperature and this is followed by vasodilation (opening of the blood vessels) as the body attempts to reheat the extremities.
The quick closing and opening of blood vessels creates a “pumping effect” which can help to reduce inflammation. WBCT also stimulates anti-inflammatory cortisol release which further reduces inflammation. As pain and inflammation often go hand-in hand, reducing inflammation can also result in decreased pain.
Recent research has shown that with chronic pain, neurotags are formed in the brain which can perpetuate and re-enforce chronic pain. With repeated exposure to WBCT, adaptions occur in the brain which can interrupt and weaken these neurotags.
This can result in long term reduction in pain perception.
Anita Naidoo
Head Physiotherapist at CryoLiving