One of the newest buzzwords in sports medicine circles is “cryotherapy.” The practice, that subjects patients to temperatures ranging from -166 to -300 degrees Fahrenheit in a liquid nitrogen-cooled chamber for brief periods of time to treat injury pain and inflammation, began overseas years ago.
Over the past three years, it’s become the populate “in” treatment in American spas, sports medicine clinics and wellness centers. It even made headlines in recent months, for differing reasons. Before their season, the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers added their own cryotherapy chamber at the team’s training center, becoming the first professional sports team to adhere to the unproven treatment.
In October, the practice made headlines for an entirely different reason when a Nevada spa worker was found dead in a cryotherapy machine. That, and some practitioners’ claims that treatments aid in weight loss and slowing the aging process, has led to increased scrutiny of the treatments and how they’re being presented.
Because cryotherapy is classified as non-medical, the FDA doesn’t regulate the devices or processes. State boards, too, have not stepped in to regulate the practice, deeming it experimental.
Meanwhile, sports medicine experts are split if the risks outweigh the treatment’s benefits.
Lost in the discussion, however, is the real benefit of other temperature-based treatments, especially in the field of sports medicine. Though the new treatment is commonly called “cryotherapy,” cryotherapy actually includes many kinds of treatment that have proven benefits. The most popular ““ and effective ““ is the use of ice packs to reduce pain and swelling after injuries. They are one of the staples of commonly accepted sports medicine treatment.
With all things, there are right and wrong ways to employ them, however.
The most effective form of cryotherapy, ice packs are valuable because they are readily available and are able to conform comfortably to the contours of the injured area.
For a good pack, the American College of Sports Medicine has these tips:
- Any plastic bag can be used. Scoop crushed ice into the bag, filling it about a third of the way.
- Remove all air from inside the bag before sealing it.
- Lay the bag flat and create one layer of ice throughout it, then apply it to the injured area. Secure it with an Ace bandage.
- For individuals sensitive to cold or for younger athletes, add a paper towel or a t-shirt under the bag to protect from frostbite.
For acute injuries, ice packs can be applied for twenty minutes at a time and then removed for 90 minutes to allow the tissue to return to normal body temperature. This can be repeated for the first 2-3 days to help reduce the amount of swelling.
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