VSP have a great deal of experience in using cryotherapy – using it to treat a vast array of conditions.
Cryotherapy has the potential to treat a whole host of inflammatory injuries, chronic pain and serious illnesses through to migraines and depression. It can also be used to great success as a cosmetic treatment for skin brightening facials, acne and body sculpting. Cryotherapy can trigger a process known as cold-induced thermogenesis, which can lead to a 3% reduction in body fat.
There are two different ways to deliver cryotherapy – Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC) and localised cryotherapy. The nature of the condition being treated will dictate the preferred approach.
What does Whole-Body Cryotherapy treat and what are the benefits?
WBC is used in the treatment of chronic pain and in post-exertion rehabilitation for athletes and sportsmen and women. Conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, frozen shoulder, fibromyalgia, tendonitis, osteoarthritis and muscle and ligament pain are all effectively treated by WBC. It has also been successful in treating skin conditions from eczema to psoriasis. The fact that cryotherapy works by reducing inflammation means that it has the potential to have a positive impact on conditions for which inflammation is the primary concern. In addition to treating specific conditions, WBC is used by many to achieve an overall feeling of wellbeing. Studies on athletes and sports players have also shown that cryotherapy reduces inflammatory proteins, while increasing the number of anti-inflammatory cytokines, reducing exercise induced inflammation. One study has also shown that cryotherapy has measurable effects if given prior to exercise.
WBC has also been studied, with positive results as a treatment for chronic back pain. Chronic back pain is one of the most common ailments in modern society, so results like these are highly encouraging. Another area in which WBC has been shown to have promise is in the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression.
One of the more difficult chronic illnesses to treat is Multiple Sclerosis, so it is with a degree of cautious optimism that cryotherapy has been shown to have a positive effect on overall functional status and fatigue on patients in some studies as well as increasing their exercise threshold in others.
What does Localised Cryotherapy treat and what are the benefits?
Localised cryotherapy can also be used to treat localised injuries and because only one area is being targeted at a time, the treatment can last longer, giving a more intense treatment. Swelling, soreness, stiff joints, tendonitis and osteoarthritis as well as other inflammatory conditions previously mentioned can all be targeted with a localised approach. Localised cryotherapy sends blood away from the injured area, then the blood will find nutrients to bring back to the area treated to help speed up recovery time. This has made localised cryotherapy a viable option for boosting post-surgical recovery times.
In addition to this, localised cryotherapy offers the ability to deliver cosmetic treatments such as cryofacials. A cryofacials, or cryotherapy facial involves a therapist pumping liquid nitrogen, using a special nozzle over the face for 2 to 3 minutes, lending the skin a glowing, youthful and even look.
It is often said that you should wash your face with cold water to keep your skin looking young. Such wisdom often holds truth and cryofacials takes this to its extreme conclusion, with stunning results.
While many feel benefit from a single session of cryotherapy, the full effects can sometimes take around six sessions to manifest.
The number of clinics with cryotherapy facilities in the UK is still relatively small and VSP are proud to offer both localised and whole-body cryotherapy.
Get in touch with our cryotherapy specialist to discuss booking your session.
Visualise how your condition makes you feel and how wonderful it would feel to say goodbye to it.
Our pricing and offers can be found here for whole body cryo and here for localised cryo.
