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Frequently Asked Questions

What is whole-body cryotherapy and how can it help?

Whole body cryotherapy is a treatment where the entire body is exposed to extremely cold air (typically -120°C to -130°C being the optimum range for therapeutic purposes) for 3 to 4 minutes to stimulate various health benefits.
The two main things that cryotherapy does is reduce inflammation in the body and improve blood circulation. The former is important to treat inflammatory based medical conditions such as MS, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Eczema, Mental Health Issues and many more.
The latter helps speed up the recovery process from injury, operations or, in the sporting world, from training. Cryotherapy has lots of other useful side benefits. It aids sleep, it boosts the body’s immune system and generally makes you feel good. It reduces cortisol in the body which is a known stressor therefor it reduces anxiety, stress and aids depression. This is why it is so good for people with mental health issues. For sports men and women it increases testosterone levels in the body so is great from a performance perspective. Other benefits include:
 Reduced muscle soreness and joint pain
 Faster recovery after exercise
 Boosts the immune system
 Reduces cortisol (the main stressor in the body)
 Increases testosterone
 Improved mood and sleep
 Increased energy
 Enhanced skin tone and reduced cellulite

A cryo chamber is essentially a very low temperature cold room. There are essentially 3 main types of cryotherapy chambers:
o Electrically cooled;
o Direct Nitrogen cooled; and
o Indirect Nitrogen cooled.

The main differences between the different types are down to performance, safety and type of use. Although electric chambers are improving all the time the vast majority operate at temperatures well below that required for medical or professional use so they tend to be used in hotel and spa environments. They are best suited for environments where they will be put to single person use with reasonable gaps between usage to allow time to get the chamber back down to their operating temperatures. Even the latest ones are not suitable for multiple person or medical use because of the ”cold” loss they suffer during use (when doors are opened and closed for entrance and exit) and the lengthy time it takes them to get back down to operating temperatures.

Using nitrogen allows chambers to reach much colder temperatures with the optimum being around -120C to -130C. Both Direct nitrogen cooling systems and indirect nitrogen cooling systems are easily capable of reaching these temperatures but the important difference is one of perceived safety and how much of the body can be included in the treatment.
With Direct nitrogen cooling systems (Cryo tubes or pods) you are standing in nitrogen gas but the head has to be excluded from the treatment as otherwise you would suffocate from nitrogen poisoning! Again, aside from the safety issues, this makes it of little use from a medical perspective as it is extremely important that the head (and in particular the brain) is included in the treatment as you need the brain to feel “challenged” in order to elicit the responses you are looking for. If the head is not involved in the treatment you will never get these responses!
Indirect nitrogen cooling systems are at the professional end and are the only type used by ourselves, (CryoLabs), most of the elite domestic and national sporting teams and, indeed, hospitals in those eastern European countries where all of this technology originally emanates from use indirect nitrogen systems. [Dr. Toshima Yamaguchi a Japanese scientist is actually credited with building the first cryochamber but the technology was then developed further by scientists in Poland where the technology has been used in their hospitals for nearly 40 years.]
With indirect nitrogen cooling systems nitrogen is used to cool air down to the required temperatures and it is only this cooled air which is then fed into the cryochamber. No nitrogen enters the chamber so they are entirely safe and as a result the whole body (including the head!) can safely enter. Because nitrogen is the cooling method the cooling down process is much quicker than electricity and is capable of maintaining the required low operating temperatures despite the constant opening and closing of entry doors. This is why they are used at a professional or medical level.
At CryoLabs we only use these professional systems both for members of the public at our clinics and for the professional elite sporting teams we provide our mobile services to.

During cryotherapy sessions, it is recommended that you wear minimal clothing to allow for better exposure to the cold temperatures. All jewellery should be removed where possible before treatment or before entering the chamber. If any Jewellery can’t be removed, it must be covered.
 Men: Shorts and optionally a loose-fitting top.
 Women: Common items women choose to wear are Swimsuit, bikini, shorts, gym top, or sports bra (no underwiring) and optionally leggings and a loose-fitting top.
Additionally, here are some compulsory Items provided by CryoLabs:
 Face mask
 Hat or headband (to cover ears)
 Gloves or mitts
 Socks
 Protective footwear

The frequency of cryotherapy sessions can vary depending on several factors. From a medical standpoint every condition is different and everyone can have a unique response to those conditions. From a sporting perspective it can depend on the level of training the person is undergoing and their individual’s goals and response to the treatment. What we have found over the years we have been providing our services is that initially having a few sessions quite close together (ie within a week period) seems to provide best results in terms of reducing inflammation and boosting blood circulation. The frequency after this depends on the condition and the individuals responses but with our experience of how others have reacted to treatments previously we can assist with advice on plans or courses for your specific needs.

 

To understand this lets first consider what happens to the body during cryotherapy. When exposed to the cold in the chamber the brain reacts, as expected, to protect itself. The first thing it does is to divert blood from the arms and legs to the vital organs and to the brain itself. The blood vessels at the tops of the arms and legs then tighten and close (vaso constriction) to prevent the blood flowing back to the arms and legs while it is needed by the vital organs. When the treatment finishes and you come out of the chamber the brain now tells the body to relax and so the blood vessels dilate actually wider than normal so you get really good blood circulation which help kick start and speed up the recovery process from injury and/or exercise and is one of the main reasons professional athletes use cryotherapy.
The brain also releases an endorphin (a bit like the body’s natural morphine) which can give you a little bit of a high or a feel good boost and this can also provide an almost instantaneous pain relief. Some of those using the chamber due to chronic pain conditions can often feel completely free of pain as soon as they come out of the chamber. This effect usually last for between 30 mins to several hours depending on the individual. It takes a little longer for the anti inflammatory effects of the cold exposure to work so someone with a chronic pain condition can exit the chamber feeling amazing without pain then an hour later the pain comes back. But a couple of hours later they find the pain has gone again due to the anti inflammatory effects beginning to work.
People tend to feel very good and happy when they come out and most of the time feel “raring to go”. The length of time this last for depends on the individual. Later on in the evening after a session people tend to feel very relaxed and quite often “nod off” if they are relaxing watching TV. Most people experience a really good nights sleep afterwards which is another of the nice side effects of cryotherapy.
Yes cryotherapy can be used as a body detox. Some people do use cryotherapy as a general wellness therapy as it seems to have a number of useful effects on the body such as boosting the immune system, improving blood circulation, removing inflammation and detoxing the body. It also aids sleep and anything which removes inflammation, reduces cortisol and helps sleep is going to help detox the body.

 

So far, we have had patients go through our chambers between the ages of 8 and 88! We generally ask for GP’s consent for those under 10 or over 85.

 

A standard cryotherapy session lasts around 3.5 minutes. The treatment begins with the user spending about 30 seconds in a pre-chamber set at temperatures ranging from -65°C to -75°C for acclimatisation. The remaining time is then spent in the main chamber, where the temperature drops to between -120C and -130C°C.

 

When performed correctly, cryotherapy is typically painless and there is no reason why is should be. However, it is important to adhere to recommended treatment times to avoid potential issues such as freezer burn. Our cryotherapy chambers are equipped with alarms that signal the completion of a session, ensuring that both users and operators are aware when the appropriate session time is nearing its end.

 

Cryotherapy, when performed under appropriate supervision and following safety guidelines, is generally considered a safe practice. However, if you have an underlying health condition, such as diabetes, Raynaud’s or claustrophobia it is important that you make this known to our team before undertaking treatment so we can take additional precautions (such as additional under gloves for Reynard’s or ensure that you know you can exit at any time where you suffer from claustrophobia)

 

There are several instances where cryotherapy may not be appropriate or recommended. In some cases, prior approval from your GP may also be required. If you are unsure, don’t hesitate to call us for clarification and we will be happy to help.
We require all our clients to complete a medical questionnaire prior to undertaking a cryotherapy session with us.
The duration of cryotherapy results can vary depending on various factors, such as the symptom you are trying to treat. However, the effects are typically temporary between days and months and some conditions may require regular sessions for sustained benefits.
Yes! If at any time you wish or feel you need to end your treatment session before the allocated time whether as a result of feeling the cold is too much for you, your skin or otherwise, then you should immediately open the door of the main chamber and re-enter the pre-chamber and then open the door of the pre-chamber to exit the whole chamber.

Following a cryotherapy session, your skin temperature typically decreases by approximately 6°C but your core temperature is generally unaffected, so it normally only takes a couple of minutes for your body to recover that drop in skin temperature.

We recommend taking a brief recovery period, either by sitting or walking around our gym area, before resuming normal activities.
We generally recommend avoiding hot showers, baths, saunas, or similar heat sources for a couple of hours to allow the body to gradually warm itself up instead of experiencing a sudden temperature change. Whilst it won’t cause harm, letting the body naturally warm up tends to yield better results. Many sports teams incorporate cryotherapy either before or after training sessions, so exercising after cryotherapy is perfectly fine.
Cryotherapy is intended to benefit your skin rather than harm it, provided you adhere to operational guidelines and follow the recommended chamber time.
By creating the perception of outer skin damage due to extreme cold, cryotherapy stimulates the production of additional collagen when you exit the chamber. This collagen boost can be particularly beneficial for skin conditions like eczema.
However, it’s important to note that disregarding the recommended treatment times and prolonging your stay in the chamber can potentially lead to issues such as freezer burn. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of cryotherapy for your skin, it is essential to respect the prescribed treatment durations and guidelines.

It is generally advised that pregnant women refrain from undergoing full-body cryotherapy treatments. However, depending on the specific area being targeted, localised cryotherapy may be considered safe. Nonetheless, it is crucial to consult with your doctor before proceeding with any cryotherapy treatment during pregnancy to ensure the well-being of both you and your baby.

The exposure to extremely cold temperatures during cryotherapy stimulates the body’s metabolism as it works to generate heat and maintain core temperature. This increase in metabolic activity can lead to calorie burn, though the amount burned will vary between individuals.
Cryotherapy’s skin-tightening and collagen-boosting effects contributes to the improvement of overall skin quality and tightness, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Yes we have had many people come to us after having a Tattoo when the treatment can have a beneficial cooling effect on the skin.
Yes make up is generally fine. What we are concerned about is moisture and sweat being trapped between the skin and any creams applied to the skin as that moisture can freeze during treatment. Provided the body is dry or the creams have already been absorbed into the skin then having these on should not be a problem. If you have any concerns please ask a CryoLabs member of staff when you arrive for treatment.