Are you feeling the pain after a tough workout or training session? Then, it might be time to supercharge your cool-down with whole-body cryotherapy. This innovative treatment is gaining serious traction among athletes and fitness enthusiasts, and it’s easy to see why.
Cryotherapy and muscle recovery go hand-in-hand. The most advanced athletes’ frigid recovery treatment, this cutting-edge cold therapy offers relief from muscle soreness and pain while speeding up recovery, reducing inflammation, and enhancing overall performance.
Whether you’re a professional athlete or an avid gym goer, understanding the effects of cryotherapy on muscle recovery can elevate your fitness programme. Here, we’ll explore the science behind cryotherapy for injury recovery and muscle repair, and uncover the amazing physiological benefits you could experience from our whole-body treatment.
Maximise recovery with cutting-edge whole-body cryotherapy at Re:nu
What is Whole-Body Cryotherapy?
Re:nu’s state-of-the-art cryotherapy chambers circulate dry, cold air as low as -110°C to stimulate a range of physiological reactions. In just 3 minutes, cryo treatments help to minimise inflammation, reduce pain, enhance mental clarity, and boost the body’s immune system—a powerful all-round treatment for post-exercise recovery and overall well-being.
How Does Cryotherapy Help Recovery?
So, how does cryotherapy help muscle recovery and athletic healing? Here’s a quick overview of how cold exposure affects the body:
- Vasoconstriction – a temporary narrowing of blood vessels helps to reduce swelling.
- Vasodilation – widening of blood vessels after treatments enhances blood flow and nutrient delivery while flushing out waste.
- Nerve-ending numbing – extreme cold numbs nerve endings, minimising pain signals sent to the brain.
- Hormonal release – a surge of adrenaline and endorphin boosts metabolism, energy, and mood.
Benefits of Cryotherapy Recovery for Athletes
For anyone still asking, ‘Is cryotherapy good for recovery?’, we’re about to drill down into just how effective this advanced treatment is. Fitness fanatics: take note.
Faster Muscle Repair
One of the most common reasons athletes turn to cryo treatments is the remarkable impact on muscular recovery. Extreme cold exposure helps alleviate muscle soreness and supports tissue repair, promoting faster recovery after exercise.
Reduced Inflammation and Swelling
Cryotherapy sessions following physical exertion are an effective way to reduce inflammation. Exposure to extremely cold temperatures causes blood vessels to constrict (known as vasoconstriction), immediately decreasing blood flow to the area to limit swelling and inflammation.
Pain Relief
Reduced inflammation also works to minimise muscular pain. Freezing temperatures help relax muscles and prevent muscle spasms while slowing down nerve signals, reducing the body’s perception of pain. Though ideal for sports recovery, cryotherapy can also reduce pain associated with chronic conditions and post-surgical pain.
Energy Boost
The vast majority of our clients report feeling a surge of energy after cryo treatments. Sub-zero temperatures trigger the release of hormones, including adrenaline, noradrenaline, and endorphins, which lead to increased alertness, energy, and mental clarity—great for shrugging off post-exercise fatigue.
Improved Sleep Quality
We all know how important rest is when you’re training for a sports event. Whole-body cryotherapy regulates the nervous system and releases endorphins, promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and helping you get a better night’s sleep.
Immune Support
Exposing the body to extreme cold increases circulation, removes toxins, and enhances metabolic function to support a healthy and functional immune system. This improved immune support keeps the body healthy while supporting recovery and detoxification.
After a more intense detox? Support your cryotherapy recovery time with Compression and Lymphatic Drainage to further enhance circulation and flush out toxins.
What to Expect from Renu London Cryotherapy Treatments
Are you intrigued about the benefits of cryotherapy for recovery but unsure what to expect? We’re here to take the mystery out of cryotherapy so you can feel comfortable and confident adding this incredible treatment to your wellness routine.
Prep
We’ll ask you to wear minimal, dry clothing to ensure the cold air can reach the majority of your body. For men, this typically means wearing swim shorts, and for women, shorts and a sports bra or crop top. We’ll also provide you with protective essentials:
- Thermal shoes
- Gloves
- Woolly hat
- Face covering
Cryo Treatment
Once you’re kitted out, your wellness consultant will help you into your cryotherapy recovery chamber. Your session will typically last for 3 minutes as the temperature drops as low as -110°C.
Aftercare
As you warm up after your session, make sure to drink plenty of water to combat any temporary diuretic effect that cold exposure can have. If you’re an athlete in training or using cryotherapy for sports recovery, we recommend returning for three or four sessions per week. Our consultants will discuss your goals when devising your personalised treatment plan.
FAQs About Cryotherapy Recovery
What is Cryotherapy for Sports Recovery?
When used for athletic and sports recovery, cryotherapy helps to improve physical recovery, reduce pain and inflammation, and boost depleted energy levels while enhancing the body’s natural healing abilities.
Can Cryotherapy Heal Injuries?
While not a cure for physical injuries, cryotherapy helps to accelerate your body’s ability to heal and recover from injury. It doesn’t directly heal damaged tissue like treatments such as red light therapy, but it reduces swelling, inflammation, and pain, which contributes to successful physical recovery.
How Often Should I Do Cryotherapy?
For athletes, we recommend regular cryotherapy sessions, ideally two to four times a week. Our team will help you devise a treatment plan that aligns with your goals.
Is Cryotherapy Better Than Ice Baths for Recovery?
Both treatments aid muscle recovery after exertion, although cryotherapy is generally considered a more effective solution. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) chambers subject the body to significantly lower temperatures than ice baths or cold water immersion (CWI). The treatment time is also substantially shorter (approximately 3 minutes rather than 10-20 minutes). For a quick, comfortable treatment with faster recovery, we recommend cryo over ice baths.
London’s Best Cryotherapy for Recovery?
Ready to unlock the power of cryotherapy recovery for athletes? We can’t wait to welcome you to our Re:nu wellness centre in London. Equipped with the market’s best-rated cryotherapy beds, our whole-body treatment will leave you feeling energised and rejuvenated.
Are you ready to enhance recovery? Book a cryotherapy session today or contact our team to discuss our state-of-the-art treatments further.
Pat Viroux is a seasoned wellness expert and visionary founder of Re:nu Health, London. With over 20 years’ experience in the wellness industry, Pat champions scientific research and innovative therapies to provide accessible wellness solutions that inspire and transform lives.
While Re:nu treatments can support performance, recovery, and wellness, individual results may vary. Advice given is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical condition. Always consult a medical professional before beginning a new treatment regime.