- Author Steve Hottub
- Published June 18, 2012
- Word count 648
There are several levels of cryotherapy. Those who participate in local or professional sports may utilize some sort of cold therapy. It’s been proven that those who use cold therapy may experience less pain and often, an accelerated recovery. There are several different forms of cold therapy that a person might use on an injury.
There are several levels of cryotherapy. Those who participate in local or professional sports may utilize some sort of cold therapy. It’s been proven that those who use cold therapy may experience less pain and often, an accelerated recovery. There are several different forms of cold therapy that a person might use on an injury.
Ice packs are one of the most popular forms of cold therapy because of their affordability and portability. If you’re in need of cold therapy, you can use gel packs or other cooling products to reduce swelling and discomfort.
The effects of cryotherapy
Many people don’t understand the impact of cryotherapy and how it can help the healing process in certain situations. It’s no doubt that the benefits will vary for each person, but for the most part, the cryotherapy procedure helps increase blood flow and therefore helps heal the inflammation and decrease pain as well. Professionals do, however, warn individuals about cold temperatures being applied to a body part for extremely long periods, as it can actually harm your body more than the original injury, if overdone.
Healing power of cryotherapy
The foregoing describes the basic benefits that cryotherapy can provide to a person. However, cryotherapy can also be used in much more serious situations. Each year, millions of people suffer from skin tumors and other cancerous cells. Technology has moved cold therapy from just the surface of the skin to essentially any part of your body. Cryotherapy can be performed on the external surface of a body part or it can be applied surgically. Cryotherapy isn’t just used when having cancerous cells removed, either; it can be used when removing other unwelcome lesions as well.
Preparing for cryotherapy
Although the basic concept behind cryotherapy is that it relieves body pain, you may still experience some discomfort while going through the procedure. If you are getting a skin treatment to remove cancer, lesions, freckles or any some other sort of skin issue, most doctors will recommend you take a mild analgesic, such as ibuprofen. Those who are having tumors removed will probably be prescribed something considerably stronger because some tumors can be located deep beneath the skin.
Equipment used for cryotherapy
There may be instances in which a mass inside of your body needs to be surgically removed and doctors will use an ultrasound system to get a precise reading of the size and location of that mass. On the other hand, an MRI may be ordered and doctors will use that technology to detect issues inside of your body.
Cryotherapy will nearly always involve the use of argon gas, which is approved by the FDA for use in cryotherapy. Depending on your situation, you may also have an IV installed, breathing monitored and your blood pressure continuously checked.
The important details of cryotherapy
Whether cryotherapy is the most appropriate treatment is a decision that must be made on a case-by-case basis. All cases vary and the effects on each patient will be different. The costs of the procedure may also vary, based on the extent of the treatment you receive. The fees are obviously something that should be covered while you’re discussing the treatment with your doctor.
Whether you’re receiving cryotherapy for a minor muscle injury or having a tumor removed from your skin; cryotherapy can be a very effective tool. Its success rate has caused both physicians and insurance companies to step up and use it as a tool to help treat various skin and body issues.