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The warmer summer weather means more outdoor sports and activities for both athletes and weekend warriors. But with the increase in both temperature and physical activity, you also face an increased risk of muscle fatigue, inflammation and longer recovery times.
That’s why summer is the ideal time to dial into the science of recovery and Cryotherapy. Here’s why you should use this innovative therapy to accelerate your healing and boost your physical and mental performance to get back in the game sooner.
What is Cryotherapy?
Whole Body Cryotherapy exposes the entire body to sub-zero temperatures inside a special chamber for up to three minutes. When this happens, the body’s natural fight or flight response is enacted, which causes blood vessels to constrict and move blood away from the extremities and toward your core. It’s during this process that levels of oxygen and certain proteins increase. When you exit the chamber and return to normal room temperature, that oxygen-rich blood moves back through your body, which can result in a wide variety of benefits.
Benefits of Cryotherapy for Recovery
From muscle repair to pain relief, Cryotherapy is a science-backed solution to the effects of increased physical activity.
Reduces Muscle Inflammation
When you participate in intense physical activity, especially in hot weather, this can naturally result in increased inflammation, and you might be surprised to learn that even healthy adults have some form of inflammation, whether they exercise or not.
Recently, RestoreLabs conducted a study measuring inflammation in healthy adults and the effects of consistent Cryotherapy use.
“Our study adds to the growing evidence that Whole Body Cryotherapy can be a powerful tool for managing systemic inflammation—even in healthy individuals,” said Dr. Rachele Pojednic, our Chief Science Officer. “We found that at least six Cryotherapy sessions significantly lowered hsCRP, a key marker of inflammation, with effects lasting up to nine months.”
Speeds Up Muscle Repair
Cryotherapy is also used to speed up the muscle recovery needed after regular physical activity. By stimulating the circulatory system and constricting blood vessels, Cryotherapy flushes out waste products like lactic acid from the muscles while simultaneously prompting healing and muscle repair.1
Provides Pain Relief
There’s a reason that ice packs are applied to help reduce pain, and Cryotherapy works as a natural pain reliever in a similar way. The extreme cold helps to reduce pain and discomfort in muscles and joints by numbing the nerve endings, and has also been found to be a natural solution to reduce chronic pain, not just a sprain or torn muscle.2
Helps Improve Performance
Whether you’re a casual jogger or professional athlete, you always want to perform at your best. Just one Whole Body Cryotherapy session has been found to boost post-exercise recovery, increase exercise duration, reduce fatigue and improve overall physical performance.3
Enhances Mental Recovery
The mental part of sports is just as important as the physical component, especially if you’re competing. Cryotherapy has been shown to help reduce anxiety and improve overall mood, due in large part to the release of endorphins that are triggered by the intense cold. These “feel good” hormones may help to provide greater mental clarity, relaxation and motivation as you tackle your next summer sports challenge.
How Often Should You Use Cryotherapy?
How often you use Cryotherapy will depend on your own recovery needs, whether that’s after an intense session or as a preventative measure to ensure you’re recovering and feeling your best before your next training. It’s always best to listen to your body, but consistency is key.
“Our data show that the more consistent you are with Cryotherapy, the stronger and more lasting the anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects,” said Dr. Rachele Pojednic, Restore’s Chief Science Officer.
Enhance the Benefits with the Recharge IV Drip
If you’re looking to take your recovery a step further, our exclusive Recharge IV Drip can help you achieve peak performance and optimal health. Beneficial nutrients are delivered directly into your bloodstream with 100% bioavailability, which means your body can absorb them more effectively than eating and drinking alone, helping to jump-start a total reset.
These potent nutrients include:
- Glutathione: decreases muscle breakdown and increases detoxification
- Proline: improves joint, tissue and skin health
- Taurine: reduces muscle soreness and improves physical performance and focus
- Vitamin C: decreases inflammation and increases immunity and iron absorption
Ask your Nurse about other Drips for recovery, energy and more health goals to help you see and feel results.
Get Back in the Game with Restore
Don’t let the summer heat keep you from doing the sports you love and doing them better. And don’t let injury or recovery take longer than it should. By including Cryotherapy and IV Drips into your recovery routine, you can get off the sidelines and make the most of what summer has to offer.
Medical services are provided by an independently-owned physician practice. Some services may require medical clearance and a prescription. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone. Services, therapies, nutrients and prices may vary per location. The content on our site, blog posts, educational materials, app, promotional newsletters and any other written content is not intended to replace an evaluation with a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended as medical advice.
