Frostbite Prevention During Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy Safety is our number one priority.

The Main Question for Cryotherapy Safety

Cryotherapy is the use of super-cooled dry air to treat soreness, injuries, and many other issues. From elite athletes to ordinary people simply wanting to get in shape, cryotherapy can help to enhance the process of recovery after a long workout. Many new users of this treatment have asked a relevant question: How can people use cryotherapy without getting frostbite? What are proper Cryotherapy Safety Guidelines?

The Basic Process and the Necessity of Cryotherapy Safety Guidelines

During a session the cryotherapy chamber fills up with gaseous liquid nitrogen, which delivers a dry cold air. The temperature will reach around negative 200 degrees Fahrenheit, which is lower than some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded on Earth! Yet cryotherapy is safe so the user will not freeze in the middle of a session. The user may experience a slight tingling sensation afterward but that’s about as intense as it gets. One must still take cryotherapy safety very seriously. In order to understand frostbite and its prevention and follow proper Cryotherapy Safety, here’s a little overview. 

What is frostbite?

Frostbite occurs after a long exposure to the cold. It kills bodily tissues after freezing them. Depending on the severity, the victim may or may not be able to recover the lost tissue. Frostbite turns areas of the body blue and then to a darker black color once the damage becomes more severe. It attacks the hands and feet first since it takes the longest for blood to circulate to the extremities. Frostbite also attacks the ears and nose. Yet, these parts of the body will be safe during a session since the head of a cryo patient is above the chamber.

The First Thing in Cryotherapy Safety

However, it is also highly advised that the client and his or her clothes be completely dry before entering the chamber (e.g., socks cannot be damp). Frostbite is possible if someone has wet clothing or is overly sweaty during the session. Make sure the client is completely dry before they enter the cryotherapy chamber. If not make sure they dry off any water or excess sweat from working out with a towel. Also, make sure their robe and other required garments are also thoroughly dry.

How can one protect themselves against frostbite during cryotherapy?

To protect against frostbite clients must wear gloves and slippers. These will help protect the wearer in the chamber during cryotherapy. Preventing frostbite is as simple as wearing the proper clothes. Just as one doesn’t wear shorts and flip flops to a formal event, cryotherapy has its own dress code. Except, in this case, the dress code ensures the user’s health and safety. Another article of clothing that users must wear is a warm robe. The user steps in and out of the cryo chamber wearing the robe and then removes the robe during treatment. Following the session the patient should put the robe back before exiting the chamber. This completes the required ensemble. All articles are necessary for proper Cryotherapy Safety.

During treatment, the body decreases blood flow to the extremities. Due to the fact that the body concentrates blood flow inward to protect internal organs, your core will maintain its proper temperature. While the core temperature remains the same, the skin temperature will drop to as low as 49-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Have Someone Watching You

Again, this question concerns the proper safety protocol that people must take. Cryotherapy lasts only three minutes and someone outside the chamber should be monitoring the session at all times. It is necessary that someone is outside operating and overseeing the chamber while it is in use for fulfillment of proper cryotherapy safety guidelines. Having a person outside means the temperature and oxygen levels will remain safe and correct.

Although the client can open the door from the inside, the person monitoring the patient from the outside can also open the door.  Users can also move around or turn in circles to help with any nervousness. The patient must keep their head above and outside of the chamber at all times to avoid inhaling nitrogen. This is an important safety measure as it is dangerous to breathe in the nitrogen gas. If it is too uncomfortable to withstand the cold, the user can always step out or ask the monitor person to assist them in exiting the cryotherapy chamber. 

Recommended Session Time

Usually people are able to withstand the cold in the chamber for the full 3-minute session. A 3-minute session is actually much more comfortable than a traditional ice bath. Remember, as far as benefits to the body come, 2 minutes in a cryotherapy chamber is equal to 45 minutes in an ice bath. It saves more time and pain than the traditional form of cold treatment. Another thing to note is that sessions should last no longer than 3 minutes. 3 minutes is the recommended maximum time that one can safely spend within a cryotherapy chamber. Anything longer is too much time. 

Good Results with Repetition

Repeating the treatment for the full amount of time is the best way to achieve the desired results. It will be a rewarding experience without the hassle of an ice bath. As long as the user is informed of what to do and what not to do, as well as what to wear, they can enjoy the cold therapy.

In order to learn more about the benefits of cryotherapy, and find out how you can provide cryotherapy services, and read the guide on the cryotherapy business.