Whole Body Cryotherapy

WBC was originally developed in Japan to treat pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis. It has been researched and refined in Europe over the past three decades. Sports, health and spa professionals in the U.S. use WBC for muscle recovery, inflammation reduction, pain management and skin care.

Our clients step into our specialized cryotherapy chamber, which uses nitrogen to rapidly lower their skin’s surface temperature. The cryotherapy chamber temperature averages around -120 Celsius (-184ºF), for the two to three minutes of treatment. The brain reacts to the skin’s temperature sensors by stimulating the regulatory functions of the body, and releasing anti-inflammatory proteins and endorphins into the bloodstream.

You’ve probably seen pictures of whole body cryotherapy equipment showing temperatures as low as -179° Celsius/-290° Fahrenheit or you’ve read articles touting temperatures as low as -284°F, which would be -175°C. Unbelievable that someone could withstand these temperatures, much less benefit from them, right?

Well, yeah, that’s right: a person could not withstand, let alone benefit from exposure to temperatures THAT cold.

So, what’s the real deal? What are these -150°C (-238°F) and -175°C (-283°F) temperatures?

Let’s think about a cryosauna. The temperature of the air in the cabin (which is the air that actually touches your body) is what needs to be measured. The Alpha Cryo cryotherapy machine measures the temperature in two places.

First, it measures the nitrogen gas cooling the cryosauna and it is typically set around -185°C/-301°F. Second, it measures the temperature within the cryosauna. And this is the true temperature of your whole body cryotherapy experience!

So, when you come to Alpha Cryo, you will enjoy the true experience, not the myth.

We provide you with thermal socks, gloves, specialized shoes and a robe. You should have a dry undergarment on. All jewelry below the neck is removed. The goal is to expose as much skin surface as possible so that your body’s reaction is optimized.

Yes! WBC involves dry, hyper-cooled air flowing over the skin surface; the process never freezes skin tissues, muscles or organs. The result is only a “feeling” of being cold. The body is being tricked into believing that this extreme cold is life-threatening. Cryotherapy is a dry cold with no moisture and tolerable even to those who consider themselves cold-intolerant.

WBC treatments result in a very different response from the body compared to ice baths. Three minutes of extreme, dry cold reaches only the top skin layers and cold receptors, causing the brain to restrict blood flow to an internal cycle. Core body temperature remains stable while WBC causes the body to release anti-inflammatory proteins and endorphins. In an ice bath, fifteen minutes of cold water initially causes the body to move blood to the extremities and results in a chilled lowering of the body’s core temperature, which is not ideal.

Since the cold from WBC only penetrates the surface of the skin, you will only experience a slight chill. Cryotherapy improves circulation throughout the body and stimulates production of brown fat, (the good fat that burns calories), so your future ability to tolerate cold should improve.

WBC has been used effectively in Europe and Asia for over thirty years. There are numerous clinical studies touting cryotherapy’s benefits. Professional athletes in the NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL have made WBC an important part of their recovery treatment programs.

No. Nitrogen is a non-flammable, non-toxic gas. Nitrogen composes 78% of the air that we breathe. The other components are 16% oxygen, 1% hydrogen and 5% other gases. Nitrogen is as common and safe as oxygen.

WBC stimulates the body to release endorphins, the hormones that make us feel alert and energetic. The elevating effects from each session typically last for six to eight hours. Many of our clients also report improvements in their sleep quality after cryotherapy.

No. In fact, the stimulation of the immune system by cryotherapy can help decrease the severity and frequency of future colds.

Yes. Your entire head remains exposed to the room and above the cryotherapy chamber. The door cannot lock and our staff is right next you through the entire process until your session has ended.

Showering is not necessary before or after cryotherapy. The entire procedure is dry and does not make your skin wet. Many clients come by during their lunch break since the entire treatment is only three minutes long. We can accommodate your specific scheduling request.

Depending upon the condition being treated, it should initially take five to ten treatments in close succession (every day or every other day), with maintenance treatments afterwards. However, many of our clients enjoy the health and beauty benefits of cryotherapy so much, they prefer a session every day.

WBC is ideal for athletes seeking muscle recovery, people with chronic pain and inflammatory conditions, and those seeking weight loss and skin rejuvenation. Cryotherapy is used post-surgery to accelerate healing and reduce pain without the side effects of pain medications. Younger clients, ages 12 to 18, can also use WBC with parent’s consent.

You may exercise before or after a cryotherapy session. An advantage of cryotherapy over ice therapy is that tissues and muscle are not frozen. Ten minutes of light exercise post cryotherapy will induce more rapid vasodilation of the blood vessels and capillaries, and extend the period of pain relief. Many of our clients also exercise first, then come in for a cryotherapy session to ensure a quick recovery and minimize next-day muscle soreness.