Cryotherapy heals your body by “freezing” it in a metal tank. Science says otherwise.
ALONG WITH STRETCHING and foam rolling post-workout, how about spending three minutes sealed in a freezing tank to relieve pain, speed up recovery, and increase your metabolic rate? That’s allegedly what whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) will do. The new trend is being touted as an alternative to the universally dreaded and nut shrinking ice baths as a recovery and performance enhancer. The gist? The body is enveloped in a tube that pumps air cooled by liquid nitrogen between -184° and -292° F., tricking the brain into “fight or flight” mode to draw all the blood out of the extremities to the core. Afterward, the blood rushes back to the extremities and brain, releasing endorphins and triggering a state of euphoria.
Does it work? I went to KryoLife in New York City and met with its co-founder Eduardo Bohórquez-Barona to find out.
“Cryotherapy may seem bizarre because the U.S. medical culture is skeptical about it. But from what we see with our clients and from the research in Europe, WBC can do a lot and we hope to educate the public on the benefits,” says Bohórquez-Barona.
MORE INFO ON CRYOTHERAPY
ORIGINS
Whole-body cryotherapy was invented in Japan in 1978 as a means to reduce pain and inflammation in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
The technology was then developed and studied in Europe. Today, while many athletes and gym goers swear by the physical and mental benefits of a whole-body cryotherapy session, there are few scientific studies that back up it up.
WHAT IT'S LIKE
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2016 من Muscle & Fitness.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة November 2016 من Muscle & Fitness.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
7 Things Fitness Insiders Want You To Know
We asked seasoned coaches and trainers in the fitness industry for tips and advice that they wish all their clients and social media followers knew. From dispelling myths about training with injuries to assuming all box gyms suck, your training IQ is all but guaranteed to rise a few points after digesting these tidbits.
GRAGE AGAINST THE MACHINES
Fitness entrepreneur James Grage ditched the gym for resistance band workouts to spend more time with his family. Judging by his results, he won’t be returning anytime soon.
GO TO BED TIRED
Forget brains, talent, or genetics. For Special Forces operator and former UFC fighter Tim Kennedy, hard work is the most important factor to a rewarding life.
FINE ART: CHISELING A COMPETITION-QUALITY UPPER BODY
How physique competitor Osamoje Imoohi shaped his mind and impressive body through fitness.
Light Up Your Legs
Juan Morel’s continued quest for bodybuilding’s top prize begins with his killer leg workout.
ROMAN'S SECOND REIGN
After being sidelined with leukemia in 2018, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns returned bigger and stronger—both inside and outside the ring.
COOL RUNNINGS
To break out of his fitness funk, M&F ’s chief content officer, Zack Zeigler, challenged himself to complete a 5K, a 10K, a half marathon, and a 24-hour, 30-mile Spartan Race all in a week’s time.
THE FUTURE OF STEROIDS
M&F explores the advancements being made to PEDs, emerging drugs, and what this all means for the future of bodybuilding and other sports
BRAIN FOOD
These seven foods will nourish your body and sharpen your mind.
THE MODERN RUNNING SHOE...DISSECTED
More innovations have been made in the past decade to the running shoe than ever before, resulting in a product so efficient it was almost banned from all running events. Here are the major changes that have led us to the pinnacle of performance footwear.
