Cryotherapy in sport

Cryotherapy is the well-kept secret  of the world’s best athletes including Matej Tóth, Christiano Ronaldo, Floyd Mayweather or LeBron James. In the playing field, ring or pitch, it’s the small details that make the winner. Cryotherapy can be the most crucial one.

Full body cryotherapy is based on the effect of extremely low temperatures between -110°C and -180°C on the human body. The objective is to cause a physiological adaptive response of the body to extreme cold, which rapidly accelerates recovery after any sport activity, training or match. In professional as well as recreational sport, regular recovery in a cryosauna can be the vital detail leading to success.

How cryotherapy in sport works?

Step 1: Sportsman enters the cryosauna

After entering the cryosauna, a cold flow of nitrogen and air mixture activates thermoreceptors in the skin. These start to send electrical impulses to the brain. The CNS identifies a state of threat. This activates a complex adaptive reaction focused on defending the body to survive in an extremely cold environment.

Step 2: Vasoconstriction.

The central nervous system sends signals to the muscles and vascular system, invoking contraction of muscles and narrowing of the blood vessels. This accelerates the flow of blood, nutrition and other resources from peripheral body parts to the body core.

Step 3: Detoxification and blood enrichment.

In order to swiftly supply enough nutritional substances to core organs, the body starts hyperproduction to enrich blood with erythrocytes, oxygen, collagen and other essential substances. Metabolites and toxins are quickly degraded and eliminated.

Step 4: Vasodilatation.

After leaving the cryosauna, thermoreceptors recognize the return to normal environment, which triggers vasodilatation and the return of enriched blood to peripheral body parts. Nutritional substances transferred by blood are absorbed by peripheral systems – muscles, tissues, joints and skin.

Local cryotherapy for sportsmen

Local cryotherapy in sport

Quick and lasting help for sports injuries

Health and full efficiency is the key to every athlete’s success. Today’s professional and also recreational sport can represent uncommon to extreme load to the human body. Small or more serious injuries can rarely be avoided. In case of more serious injuries of the musculoskeletal system, as well as microtrauma at higher load, local application of nitrogen stream as cold as -130 °C will eliminate pain and help with faster healing of tissues. In addition, nitrogen will help extending the range of motion and allow further recovery of the athlete. Reducing the pain also helps the patient to stay motivated in the recovery process and continue to exercise, which otherwise wouldn’t be possible due to pain.

Whole-body cryotherapy for sportsmen

Whole body cryotherapy is currently the most efficient and most comprehensive method of recovery and stimulation of the locomotive apparatus. Thanks to its distinctive recovery effect it is used by athletes, gyms and sports clubs around the globe. Juventus Turin, Udinese Calcio, Inter Milan, San Francisco 49ers and other top notch sport establishments have included cryosauna and cryotherapy in their training processes. Cryosauna represent an ideal ergonomic and effective solution for sport clubs, gyms, physiotherapy and recovery clinics, as well as individual athletes.

Whole body cryotherapy in sport

Cryotherapy procedure for sportsmen

Within a 2-3 minutes long procedure in a cryosauna, the human body is rapidly exposed to extremely low temperature of about -130°C. To support the effect of cryotherapy, we recommend additional 15-20 minutes of kinesiotherapy on a stationary bicycle, or similar aerobic exercise after the procedure.

In addition to the already described stimulation and recovery effect on muscles and the whole locomotive apparatus, increased production of beta-endorphins inducing a feeling of happiness and boost of activity. This feeling of motivation and positive encouragement, and also higher resistance to load thanks to the analgesic effect, will persist 3 – 5 hours after the procedure.

Cryotherapy in Athletics: Matej Tóth

Matej Tóth, Slovak race walker, Olympic champion

“My experience with cryotherapy is extensive. It has become a regular part of my year-round preparation. I take at least three 10-course treatments during the year, most often in October-March and in June. It serves as a method of recovery after a demanding training block. It doesn’t take much time and does not exhaust as much as cold water therapy or ice bath. In addition, the pleasant feeling thanks to endorphins motivates me to train more and of course it accelerates recovery and eliminates fatigue. In case of muscle injuries I use local cryotherapy. Thanks to this I was able to take part in the London Olympics after tibial tendon inflammation!”

Cryotherapy in Hockey: Tomáš Surový

Tomáš Surový, Ice Hockey

“I’ve been using cryotherapy for the last 5 years as an integral part of recovery between matches 3-4 times a week. Thanks to it I feel less tired and more motivated for training, I feel so healthy. It also helps me to avoid fatigue injuries and if a small injury happens, I use local cryotherapy treatment immediately with cryophen”.

Cryotherapy in Basketball: Basketball club Piešťanské Čajky

Basketball club Piešťanské Čajky, Slovak Vice Champion 2017

“In the club we’re trying to create the most professional environment and the recovery of our players is our priority. We only have positive experience with Cryotherapy, since we have been using services of another cryotherapy provider in the past years in Piestany. When it came to have a cryosauna right in the Diplomat arena, we didn’t hesitate and we are sure that this will have great benefits” said Bronislava Borovičková, the club’s CEO.

“From the physiotherapist‘s perspective, it‘s a great experience to work with a cryosauna directly in our premises where it is always available. The advantage is that we can better respond to situations when for example, increased fatigue occurs after a match or after a training cycle. I also feel great benefit in the cooperation between me and the main coach. We have clear rules on when whole body cryotherapy is applied, which further increases the overall effect of this therapy”, Michal Nagaj, Physiotherapist for Piešťanské Čajky.

“Many reactions in the body are triggered, which start recovery processes in the body immediately after the therapy. In the next few hours these processes will reduce total fatigue or help to heal, for example, muscle structures, thereby increasing prevention of injury. The players are therefore ready again for the full performance that is required in professional sports”, Michal Nagaj describes the effect of whole-body cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy in Biathlon: Martin Otčenáš

Martin Otčenáš, Biathlonist

“I have long term positive experience with cryotherapy as an athlete. I first tried it in 2005 after several muscle injuries, when it helped me in my convalescence. Since 2012 I’ve been taking 10 course treatments during my summer preparation, which helps me to cope with demanding trainings by accelerating recovery and relaxation of the muscles. I take another 10 course treatment before the start of the main season, before winter, to boost my immune system and to help overall recovery of muscles and tendons after the training period”.