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Our Services / Cryotherapy

Hormone Replacement Specialists & Stem Cell Specialists located in Southern California, Santa Monica, CA, Houston, TX and Aspen, CO

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Cryotherapy

The idea of cryotherapy, or extreme cold, might not sound like a good idea at first, but it has multiple health benefits. Rand McClain, DO, and his team at Regenerative & Sports Medicine offer cryotherapy facilities. At their office in Santa Monica, California  they use this treatment for sports injuries, mood disorders, and to boost well-being. To find out more about the benefits of cryotherapy and if it’s right for you, call the office or book an appointment online today. 


Cryotherapy Q & A


What is cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy or cold therapy is a technique that uses extremely cold temperatures. The benefit of cold in treating injuries is something that healers have used for generations. In fact, an ice pack is a simple form of cryotherapy.

Ice packs contain crushed, cubed, or wetted ice (a mixture of ice and water). Ice sprays, which include a chemical that lowers tissue temperature, are a convenient alternative.

Other forms of cryotherapy include a cold bath, whirlpool hydrotherapy tub, and ice massage (where the therapist enhances the effect of the cold by making slow, circular stroking movements for five to 10 minutes). The Regenerative & Sports Medicine team also recommends whole-body cryotherapy.

What is whole-body cryotherapy?

Whole-body cryotherapy involves immersing yourself in a cold environment for several minutes. Extreme athletes have been using this technique for many years, but it’s now increasingly popular with people from other walks of life because of its remarkable benefits.

The treatment involves stepping into an enclosure or lying in a cryotherapy chamber where the temperature drops to negative 200-300°F. You stay in this ultra-low temperature environment for up to a maximum of 3½ minutes. You should feel some benefit from one cryotherapy session, but it’s most effective if you do it regularly.

You might not find the prospect of experiencing extreme cold very appealing. However, the exposure time is so brief that it passes by very quickly, and you soon warm up afterward. People who’ve experienced cryotherapy recommend it and say the benefits outweigh the momentary discomfort.

Why should I consider cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy can treat many musculoskeletal conditions and other health problems, including:

  • Ligament sprains
  • Muscle or tendon strains
  • Myofascial trigger point pain
  • Tendinitis
  • Bursitis
  • Back, neck or joint pain
  • Sciatica
  • Migraines
  • Mood disorders
  • Chronic pain
  • Postoperative pain and recovery

People with weight problems can use cryotherapy to help them lose weight, in combination with sensible dieting and exercise. Cryotherapy is also popular with athletes to aid their post-workout recovery. Regenerative & Sports Medicine recommends cryotherapy for patients with sports injuries.

Many people find that cryotherapy improves their general feeling of well-being, even if they don’t have specific health problems.

To find out more about cryotherapy and see how you could benefit from this innovative treatment, call the Regenerative & Sports Medicine office in Santa Monica, California or Houston, Texas to book an appointment online today.