Cold Comfort Or Cool Fad?

Whole body cryotherapy has found a fan base for inflammation and pain relief among celebrities, but what exactly is it and how does it help? Sophia auld chips below the icy surface

The netball game started like any other, until the ball bounced off the steel pole, smashing into Kirsty Wirth’s eye. The 42-year-old suffered a traumatic brain injury and was told recovery would take three to six months. Keen to speed things up, the mother-of-two did some research, which unearthed cryotherapy as a possible treatment.

The term ‘cryotherapy’ applies to any treatment using cold. But the latest method takes it to a new level. Whole body cryotherapy involves briefly exposing the body to extremely low temperatures. Localised cryotherapy uses a machine to blow vapourised liquid nitrogen onto a specific area.

The idea might send shivers down your spine, but early research is indicating that it may help with relieving the pain and inflammation associated with some conditions, such as fibromyalgia. It is also popular with athletes such as former NBA greats Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, and is used by celebrities including life coach Tony Robbins and actress Jennifer Aniston.

Whole body cryotherapy

The therapy’s mainstay is whole body cryotherapy (WBC), which involves entering a chamber chilled to -140°C with liquid nitrogen vapour, explains James Bermingham, who runs FloCryo on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with his wife Elouise.

“It sounds unbearable, but most people are surprised by how well they handle the cold,” he says. “You are in the chamber for only three minutes and you can hop out at any time. It is fully adjustable for temperature, so if it feels too cold we can always warm it up.”

The machine is adjusted to your height, so your head pokes out the top and you can breathe normally. You can go naked or wear your underwear or swimsuit (men must wear underwear), and are supplied gloves, socks and slippers. While inside, “people can dance, sing, whatever they feel the need to do,” says James.