Cryotherapy Vs Ice Bath
The biggest difference is that during submersion in an ice bath the body is faced with the unrelenting process of warming the blood in the body s core back to normal temperature.
Cryotherapy vs ice bath. More broadly an ice bath is pretty good at decreasing inflammation. Whole body cryotherapy is not a glorified ice bath. A 2017 study testing cold water immersion vs. Cryotherapy is just as effective as ice baths but so much more convenient.
Cold air exposure typically lasts for three minutes in a specialised cold air chamber an ice bath typically lasts for 10 minutes. As a result of the treatment the skin temperature varies from 32 c to 35 c in cryotherapy and 45 c to 60 c in the traditional method. It is not a more expensive ice bath. Partial body cryotherapy and found that both treatments resulted in similar recovery profiles during a 72 hours follow up period when it comes to recovery cryotherapy and ice baths are a draw.
The body s reaction to the ultra cool temperatures during cryotherapy is a completely different physiological reaction compared to that of an ice bath. It doesn t involve water submersion it doesn t involve cooling the soft tissue it is not painful and miserable and hated by many. Wbc involves exposing the body to hyper cooled air ranging from 200 to 240 f triggering the body s natural healing mechanisms. During the 2 3 minutes of healing therapy the brain stimulates the body s organ regulatory functions resulting in energy increase cell rejuvenation immune system boost increased endorphins and adrenaline and overall system self healing.
Cryotherapy uses extremely cold air in the range of 220 c to 280 c whereas the temperature of water in an ice bath varies from 45 c to 60 c.