5 Biggest Benefits of Cryotherapy for Athletes

A woman with dreadlocks enjoying Cryotherapy at Restore Hyper Wellness

Athletes usually push their bodies to the limit, whether it’s in training or competition. The maximum level of intensity brings better results, and it’s a necessary risk for performance that elevates one athlete from their competition.

However, over the years, with that kind of wear and tear on the body, comes the risk of injury. From strains and sprains to more serious injuries, causing most athletes to retire by the time they’re 40 years old, and usually even sooner.

If rest time and recovery are taken care of, an athlete might reach their retirement age without sore muscles and health problems that are often associated with hard work over the course of their career.

Nowadays, professional and hobby athletes are constantly looking for ways to speed up their recovery and prevent future injuries. One increasingly popular method is cryotherapy.

What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is a form of cold therapy that exposes the body to extremely low temperatures for a short period of time.

During cryotherapy, exposing the body to such temperatures will cause the blood vessels to constrict, which in turn sends nutrient-rich blood to the areas of the body that need it most.

There are two types of cryotherapy: whole body cryotherapy and local cryotherapy. Both are beneficial depending on personal preference. If an individual needs to target a single spot or group of muscles, then local cryotherapy is a better choice.

However, the maximum potential benefits of freezing temperatures are reaped through whole body cryotherapy.

Benefits of Cryotherapy for Athletes

Cryotherapy offers many benefits for athletes, including improved recovery, reduced soreness, muscle repair, improved performance, and prevention of injuries. The nutrient-rich blood can be sent to sore muscles, to relieve them.

Right after whole body cryotherapy, an individual starts releasing endorphins, which effectively reduce pain as well. Additionally, the nutrients feed muscles, helping with recovery and muscle growth among many other benefits.

1. From clogged pores and blemishes to clean skin

Cryotherapy can help to speed up post-workout recovery by reducing soreness and muscle soreness. Cold temperatures help constrict blood vessels which then send nutrient-rich blood to the areas of the body that need it most.

This helps reduce muscle soreness and redness, allowing athletes to get back to training and competing faster.

2. Reduced soreness

Cryotherapy can also help reduce soreness throughout the body. Extreme cold temperatures cause blood vessels to constrict, which reduces soreness.

It can be especially beneficial for athletes who suffer from chronic soreness or arthritis.

3. Muscle Repair

Cryotherapy can help repair damaged muscle tissue by increasing blood flow to the affected area. The increased blood flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to the damaged muscle tissue, which helps to speed up the healing process.

4. Improved Performance

Cryotherapy can help improve an athlete’s performance by reducing muscle soreness and redness. This allows athletes to train harder and longer, which leads to improved performance.

5. Prevents Injuries

Cryotherapy can help prevent injuries by reducing redness and muscle soreness. When the muscles are less sore and inflamed, they are less likely to be injured.

Cryotherapy can also help increase flexibility, which can also help to prevent injuries.

Types of Athletes That Benefit From Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy can benefit a wide range of athletes, including but not limited to:

Professional and amateur athletes: They can benefit from cryotherapy by recovering faster, performing better, and avoiding injuries.

Endurance Athletes: Cryotherapy can help endurance athletes exercise more intensely and for longer periods of time by reducing muscle soreness and redness.

Strength athletes: Cryotherapy can aid in muscle tissue healing, pain reduction, and injury prevention for strength athletes.

Athletes in team sports: Cryotherapy can help by allowing quicker recovery, better performance, and helping them avoid injuries.

Combat athletes: Cryotherapy can aid combat athletes in recovering more quickly, performing better, and avoiding injuries.

Athletes recovering from injuries: Cryotherapy can aid injured athletes by reducing swelling, repairing muscle tissue, and accelerating rehabilitation.

Athletes with sore muscles: Cryotherapy can help athletes with sore muscles to reduce pain, soreness, and stiffness.

Is Cryotherapy For Me?

If you’re an athlete who wants to perform at the top of your game and separate yourself from the competition, utilizing every tool available for performance is a must!

Cryotherapy takes the proven benefits of icing after physical activity and combines it with technology and science to fully maximize the potential of below-freezing temperatures.

So no matter the level of your athletic career, or even if sports are just a hobby, cryotherapy has the potential to raise your potential and help you recover faster.