Benefits of Localized Cryotherapy

Reduced Inflammation

The primary effect is reduction of inflammation, which occurs as a result of vasoconstriction at the site of exposure. This decreases the presence of inflammatory markers at the site of application [9].

Pain Relief

Pain reduction is a significant benefit of localized cryotherapy and it is thought to be due to the anti-inflammatory properties [1][2][3]. Pain reduction lends the treatment to many various applications.

Injury Recovery

One of the applications of inflammatory and pain reduction is improved injury recovery. Specific studies have reviewed the effects of cryotherapy following ACL surgery [2], as well as molar removal [4]. Both studies found significantly improved postoperative pain scores.

The pain and inflammatory reduction also lends itself to enhancement of rehabilitation in recovering patients. Local cryotherapy can be used as an adjunct method of recovery, in that following application additional therapy can be conducted than would be possible otherwise due to pain.

One study found that local cryotherapy improved and prevented muscular fatigue [13]. Another study found benefits for reduction of inflammation and muscular necrosis after soft tissue damage, though in rats and not humans [20].

The applications here include targeted injury recovery and pain relief in massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, sports therapy, and dentistry.

Chronic Inflammatory Relief

The anti-inflammatory properties of cryotherapy lend itself also to the relief from chronic inflammatory conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, prurigo nodularis, and arthritis [5].

Skin Health

There is not a whole lot of research on the effects of localized cryotherapy on the skin. This is unfortunate because the results are quite impressive. Clients report significant improvements in acne, eczema, skin tone, wrinkle reduction, and cellulite reduction.

Clients are incredibly satisfied with the results of localized cryotherapy and it shows by the rapid growth of the market, with no signs of slowing down.

It is thought that the improvements in skin appearance is due to several factors. The anti-inflammatory properties cause vasoconstriction [10][11], immediately reducing swelling in the face. Once treatment ends for a particular target region, blood returns to the site providing a fresh supply of warm and oxygenated blood. This can improve skin tone immediately following treatment. This can also improve blood circulation, which has been linked to aging [12].

Finally, there is an understanding that cryotherapy improves collagen production, leading to enhanced skin appearance. Cryotherapy and other forms of cold treatment certainly have been shown to have an affect on collagen growth and mRNA expression [7][8][9], however the applications and meaning of these results are inconclusive.

We were unable to find any studies which directly tested this claim, more research is needed.

But one thing is for sure, people love it, and they see real results.

Fat / Cellulite Reduction

There are countless studies on the practice known as cryolipolysis and the dramatic results seen in the reduction of adipose, or fat tissue just below the skin [14][15][16][17][18].

This adipose tissue contributes to the appearance of dimpled looking skin. This is because the adipose tissue bulges and pushes out portions of the skin while leave “dimples” between. It is believed that the cells of the fatty tissue are more prone to damage due to the cold temperatures and are destroyed and removed by the body following treatment, leaving the surrounding cells intact [17].

Cryolipolysis is not quite the same as localized cryotherapy, as it involves suction of the skin along with the fatty tissue away from the surrounding tissue for application of cold temperatures within a small local chamber.

However, the good news is that localized cryotherapy works on the same principle –reducing the skin temperature locally, reaching similar temperatures as cryolipolysis.

The result? Many reports of fat reduction with the use of localized cryotherapy and many satisfied clients.

While cryolipolysis certainly produces fast results, there are advantages to localized cryotherapy. Local cryotherapy is extremely gentle and in fact very enjoyable, producing rushes of endorphins and relaxation in clients.

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Note: Information contained within this website and in all materials, communications, or presentations by High Tech Healing is for informative purposes only. Localized cryotherapy machines are neither designed nor advised for treatment or cure of any illness or disease. No cryotherapy machine has been tested or approved by the FDA. Please consult with your medical professional before beginning any cryotherapy or recovery method. 

REFERENCES

1. The Use of Cryotherapy in Cosmetology and the Influence of Cryogenic Temperatures on Selected Skin Parameters—A Review of the Literature - ProQuest - https://www.proquest.com/openview/5b253da9306396dfe0af8c156923df1f/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=2055421
2. Evaluation of Local Cryotherapy after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction. Critical Review of the Literature. - https://europepmc.org/article/med/31774060
3. Direct Effect of Local Cryotherapy on Muscle Stimulation, Pain and Strength in Male Office Workers with Lateral Epicondylitis, Non-Randomized Clinical Trial - https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/5/879
4. Effects of Various Cryotherapy Applications on Postoperative Pain in Molar Teeth with Symptomatic Apical Periodontitis: A Preliminary Randomized Prospective Clinical Trial - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29398090/
5. Whole-Body Cryotherapy in Atopic Dermatitis | Allergy and Clinical Immunology | JAMA Dermatology - https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/419737
6. Intralesional Cryotherapy for Enhancing the
7. Involution of Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids - https://lktechnology.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/3.pdf
8. Cryotherapy has antifibrotic and regenerative effects on human vocal fold fibroblasts - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30315572/
9. Cryotherapy Reduces Inflammatory Response Without Altering Muscle Regeneration Process and Extracellular Matrix Remodeling of Rat Muscle - https://www.nature.com/articles/srep18525
10. Skin-surface cooling elicits peripheral and visceral vasoconstriction in humans - https://journals.physiology.org/doi/full/10.1152/japplphysiol.00401.2007
11. Cold-induced vasoconstriction may persist long after cooling ends: an evaluation of multiple cryotherapy units - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00167-014-2911-y
12. Aging and the control of human skin blood flow - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3228253/
13. Local cryostimulation acutely preserves maximum isometric handgrip strength following fatigue in young women - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0011224019300513
14. Cryolipolysis™ for subcutaneous fat layer reduction - Avram - 2009 - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/lsm.20864
15. Safety and Efficacy of Cryolipolysis: A Systematic Review of Available Literature | Aesthetic Surgery Journal - https://academic.oup.com/asj/article/35/7/830/2589179
16. Cryolipolysis for Reduction of Excess Adipose Tissue- https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/fmc/scms/2009/00000028/00000004/art00007
17. Cryolipolysis for noninvasive body contouring: clinical efficacy and patient satisfaction - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4079633/
18. Three‐dimensional volumetric quantification of fat loss following cryolipolysis - Garibyan - 2014 - Lasers in Surgery and Medicine - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lsm.22207