Cryotherapy is increasingly and demonstrably successful in sports and medicine. Every therapist who treats athletes appreciates this type of therapy. Cold therapy enhances performance, accelerates recovery in sports, and supports the healing of sports injuries.
Published on 02/09/2022
Cryotherapy has long held a permanent place in competitive sports in particular—male and female football players, boxers, runners, and many other athletes step into an ice barrel before or after a competition, such as the portable ice baths from Avanto Pool. Today, therapists and sports physicians treat patients in this field using state-of-the-art and highly effective equipment. Fans of cold therapy include the German Bundesliga, football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Franck Ribéry, tennis star Alexander Zverev, triathlete Laura Philipp, professional basketball player Johannes Voigtmann, and boxing world champion Floyd Mayweather, to name a few. In this article, we show you the special features of modern cryotherapy and explain why you should harness the power of cold for athletes.
Applications involving water, cold, and heat are among humanity's oldest forms of therapy. The first evidence of healing through the removal of heat dates back over two thousand years. In the year 129 AD, the Greek physician Hippocrates cured a wide variety of illnesses using snow and ice. Famous physicians such as Scudamore, Lusitanus, and Vollemier followed his example. Our nervous system is highly sensitive to cold, and at a temperature of just 5 degrees, the conductivity of the pain receptors decreases. Modern cooling methods using devices from Aquilo utilize this effect, but without the moisture that many find unpleasant. Those who are into real ice baths will find the portable Ice baths from Avanto Pool well served
Cold changes muscle tension. A short-term cold stimulus increases muscle tension. In contrast, prolonged application of cold produces a positive effect that relaxes the muscles: spasms loosen and muscle activity decreases. In addition, cold reduces the conduction velocity of the nerves and dampens the activity of pain receptors. A cold stimulus also reduces blood circulation – all blood vessels constrict at the site of the cold stimulus. This counteracts bruising and swelling after injuries and in cases of inflammation.
Effects of ice applications:
Effects of compression:
Cryo or cryo comes from Ancient Greek and means „ice“ or „frost.“ A therapeutic effect is achieved through the targeted use of cold stimuli. Local application is carried out using various means such as cold packs, electronic devices with various body cuffs, cold water, ice, or nitrogen. For example, temperatures of up to -110 °C can be reached in a cryotherapy chamber. Cold therapy is a form of thermotherapy, which is a sub-area of physical therapy. In addition to short-term applications lasting 3 to 5 minutes, there are also long-term applications lasting over 1 hour.
Cold therapy achieves special effects in inflammatory processes in the body: overheating, swelling, redness, and pain indicate inflammation. In cases of inflammation, cold has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect – relieving pain and reducing inflammation. These effects are used to great advantage in sports and rheumatology: the cold initially reduces blood flow and constricts the blood vessels. This prevents bruises and swelling from spreading further.
Numerous studies have now shown that cryotherapy has become an indispensable part of the fields of medicine, wellness and aesthetics, and sports. The medical literature also concludes that cold therapy achieves significant results in treating numerous diseases and in competitive sports. The positive effects of cold therapy last for about three hours, allowing therapists to use it for athletes who are about to begin an intensive training camp.
An ice bath prevents inflammation, promotes recovery after a competition, and relieves muscle soreness. Even ambitious recreational athletes appreciate the soothing effects of a cold pack or ice spray. Numerous sports facilities already use cold therapies in the form of ice saunas or cold plunge pools—fitness centers, sports clubs, and sports centers, as well as therapists, use them Professional cryotherapy equipment for competitive athletes. Cold therapy is used in the Bundesliga, the NBA, and even the Tour de France. Because an ice bath is complex in terms of handling and logistics, new devices such as Aquilo are gladly used. These devices even combine cold therapy with compression, making them particularly efficient. Cold therapy has also proven effective in terms of faster healing of sports injuries.
Cold makes you beautiful, stops unwanted inflammation in the body—and thus slows the aging process—and helps with weight loss. In Hollywood, a visit to the ice sauna is part of a weekly ritual. Here in Germany, too, beauty salons, saunas, and hotels are following suit and expanding their spa offerings to include facilities such as a cold chamber or an ice bath like the Kinos Pool.
For rheumatic diseases, treatment in cold chambers is part of the standard therapy at many clinics. Cold has been proven to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. In many cases, the costs of cryotherapy are covered by health insurance. The downside: the operating costs of cold chambers and ice saunas are very high.
Cold therapy is a must-have in every sports practice and sports center. In the Product Line from MTR Health & Spa That’s why you’ll find a wide selection of state-of-the-art cold therapy devices. These include cold, compression, and contrast therapy products from Game Ready, a dry ice bath from Icebein, and Avanto Pool ice baths. These products can be found in the Sports category and are particularly well-suited for sports therapists—such as sports medicine specialists—as well as for sports organizations looking to provide their athletes with access to the power of cold therapy through MTR equipment.
One of the most important effects of cold therapy in sports is that it speeds up and improves recovery; another is that it enhances performance. After injuries such as sprains, bruises, and strains, cold promotes the healing process. Studies show that the body recovers more quickly after a competition or workout when treated with cold. Even after surgery, wounds heal faster and leave fewer scars. Before a workout—such as strength training—cold maximizes oxygen supply to the muscles and is thus even more effective than a warm-up.
Cold Therapy in Sports has very different effects depending on whether the training focuses on strength, jumping power, speed, or endurance. The timing of cold therapy also plays a key role in optimal recovery. In sports, injuries or overexertion happen from time to time. Most often, people turn to ointments, massages, or compression garments to support and accelerate the healing process. The University of Basel found that: A ice-water bath after exercising, it promotes well-being, reduces fatigue, and ensures less muscle pain. Regarding speed, a clearly positive effect was also found, which even lasts for two to four days after the cold application. Cold treatments have also proven effective in reducing sore muscles.
A cold application after exercise measurably reduces inflammation levels in the body (fewer pro-inflammatory cytokines). Since blood circulates throughout the entire body, this positive effect benefits the whole organism. Blood circulation in the muscles is improved and the metabolism is stimulated – both of which promote faster recovery. In addition, the cold strengthens the immune system – meaning flu and colds don't stand a chance, and missed training sessions can be avoided.
How cold therapy supports recovery in sports:
The application for regeneration takes place after sports.
During exercise, the body uses energy to maintain a normal body temperature. If the body is cooled down before exercise, it has more energy available for athletic performance. The cold stimulus also raises the pain threshold, allowing athletes to perform at 110 percent of their capacity. Cold increases blood flow to the muscles and optimizes muscle metabolism. When exercising after cold exposure, less lactate is produced and muscular performance is enhanced. The performance increase can be as high as 20 %. Cold improves both endurance and explosive power. Exposure to cold before exercise boosts performance.
The performance-enhancing supplement is taken shortly before exercise and remains effective for up to three hours afterward.
Cold therapy has a favorable effect on sports injuries and reduces pain in the ankle, Achilles tendon, or wrist. The body perceives the cold stimulus as a threat and sends a signal to the brain. Here, it overrides the pain stimulus, thus providing pain relief. The pain and inflammation relief helps with joint and muscle problems.
How cold helps with sports injuries:
The application is generally carried out as a supplement to other rehabilitation measures.
Ice baths are stylish and trendy. Everywhere there are events where people jump into the local lake or stream in the winter. Ice baths have a wide range of benefits. After exercising, waste products form in the muscles and accumulate there. An ice bath initially constricts the blood vessels, thereby minimizing blood circulation. After the cold shock, the blood vessels expand and blood circulation is stimulated: waste products are quickly transported away. A practical example of this is soccer players who climb into the ice tub after a game. Sports scientist Arndt Krüger discovered that the performance of the players treated with an ice bath was better and the signs of fatigue were lower than those of their teammates.
For therapists or sports organizations that want to offer athletes the traditional ice bath in freezing water, we at MTR also features ice baths from Avanto Pool. People know that cold is good for the body and chop holes in the ice to bathe in the freezing water. After a Finnish sauna, Finns roll around in the snow – in the city, you step into an ice bath. The cold refreshes, relieves stress, and strengthens the immune system.
Also check out our other products in the „Sports“ category. In this section, you will find effective and modern cold therapy devices for injury prevention, recovery, and better performance.
Here is a summary of the benefits of why you should use cryotherapy for athletes.
Performance enhancement, recovery, or support for a sports injury—the benefits of cryotherapy in sports are immense. The various application options offer users flexibility for use at the right moment. The diverse advantages indicate that cold therapy devices for use with athletes will face high demand in the future.
As a therapist, sports physician, sports coach, or member of a sports organization, take this opportunity and prepare early with professional devices prepare for upcoming treatments.
We are happy to provide you with further information and answer your questions personally.
We are happy to provide you with further information and answer your questions in person.
LOG IN
We have sent a 6-digit verification code to your email. Please enter it below to continue.
Register now to easily manage your orders and benefit from additional perks after your first purchase.
We have sent a 6-digit verification code to your email. Please enter it below to continue.
REGISTER NOW
We have sent a 6-digit verification code to your email. Please enter it below to continue.
We have sent a 6-digit verification code to your email. Please enter it below to continue.
We have sent a 6-digit verification code to your email. Please enter it below to continue.
Forgot password
