Cryotherapy involves exposing your body to extremely cold temperatures for a few minutes to reduce inflammation, aid recovery, and improve overall well-being. The Cryo Hub in Berkhamsted uses an electric cryochamber set to −85 °C for whole-body sessions lasting 3–5 minutes. Here’s what you need to know:
- Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC): Immerses your entire body, including your head, in consistent cold temperatures to trigger recovery, reduce swelling, and manage pain.
- Targeted Cold Therapy: Focuses on specific areas like joints or muscles for injuries, chronic pain, or post-surgery recovery.
- Health Benefits: Helps with pain management, faster recovery, improved mood, better sleep, and boosted metabolism.
- Safety Measures: Includes health screenings, blood pressure checks, and protective clothing to ensure a secure experience.
- Restrictions: Not suitable for conditions like cardiovascular issues, Raynaud’s syndrome, pregnancy, or recent cancer remission.
Whether for full-body immersion or targeted therapy, cryotherapy offers a controlled, safe way to support recovery and wellness.
Cryotherapy Methods
Full Body Treatment
The Cryo Hub features an electric cryochamber designed for whole-body cryotherapy (WBC). This chamber maintains a steady −85 °C, ensuring even exposure throughout the session. In just 3–5 minutes, the dry cold rapidly lowers skin temperature to about 1 °C in less than 30 seconds.
Next, let’s look at how targeted therapy addresses specific concerns.
Targeted Cold Therapy
Unlike whole-body cryotherapy, targeted cold therapy focuses on specific areas, making it especially useful for:
- Joint inflammation
- Sports injuries
- Recovery after surgery
- Muscle strains
- Chronic pain
This method helps reduce swelling and inflammation in the treated area, promoting recovery without the uneven temperatures or discomfort of traditional ice packs or wraps.
Clinical Applications
In both medical and wellness environments, controlled cold exposure activates the body’s natural fight-or-flight response, resulting in several physical effects:
- Vasoconstriction: Minimises swelling and inflammation
- Improved blood flow: Speeds up the healing process
- Endorphin release: Provides natural pain relief
- Metabolic activation: Aids tissue repair
The Cryo Hub’s dry cold system is more comfortable compared to water-based methods. Its consistent −85 °C setting ensures reliable outcomes without temperature changes.
Cryotherapy: Is It Safe? What You Need to Know Before Trying It
Health Effects
Let’s take a closer look at how cryotherapy impacts the body and mind.
Recovery and Pain Management
Whole-body cryotherapy, performed at temperatures as low as −85 °C, helps numb irritated nerves, which can ease pain from conditions like arthritis. It also triggers vasoconstriction, which helps reduce inflammation and swelling.
Mental Health and Sleep
Cryotherapy can improve mood by releasing chemicals like adrenaline, noradrenaline, and endorphins. Research suggests it provides short-term relief for anxiety and depression. Many users also report sleeping better after sessions. These mental and sleep benefits work hand-in-hand with physical recovery.
Supporting Body Functions
Cryotherapy does more than just tackle pain and swelling. Regular 3–5-minute sessions can help boost metabolism, strengthen the immune system, and speed up recovery.
The Cryo Hub’s electric cryochamber immerses the entire body – including the head – in temperatures as low as −85 °C for 3–5 minutes. This ensures a consistent, safe, and comfortable experience.
sbb-itb-32603e3
Common Questions
Treatment Process
At The Cryo Hub, whole-body cryotherapy sessions take place in an electric cryochamber set to −85 °C. During the 3–5 minute session, clients are fully immersed – head and body included – and can move around freely under the supervision of a physiotherapist.
Let’s address some key topics, including safety, preparation, and system options.
Safety Information
Whole-body cryotherapy is generally considered safe, with only a few minor and short-lived side effects reported. According to the Bad Voslau consensus, proper screening and strict adherence to contraindications are crucial. A medical screening is recommended before starting any WBC programme.
Here’s how to begin your journey.
Getting Started
Book your session and complete a quick health screening. Our physiotherapy team will help you prepare, ensuring the experience is both safe and comfortable.
Electric vs Gas Systems
The Cryo Hub’s electric cryochamber uses a closed-loop refrigeration system to deliver consistent cooling. Unlike nitrogen-based systems, it circulates evenly chilled fresh air, providing uniform temperatures throughout the chamber. This even cold exposure – including the head – enhances vasoconstriction, boosts recovery mechanisms, and supports deeper hormonal and anti-inflammatory responses.
Safety Guidelines
Before starting your session, it’s important to follow these safety measures for a secure and comfortable experience.
The Cryo Hub Safety Protocol
Here’s what The Cryo Hub protocol involves:
- A health screening and blood pressure check before the session
- A 3–5 minute session at –85 °C, monitored the entire time
- Protective clothing provided to ensure your safety
Health Restrictions
Certain health conditions may prevent participation:
- Cardiovascular issues: May cause constriction of peripheral blood vessels
- Raynaud’s syndrome: Increased sensitivity to cold
- Cryoglobulinaemia: Potential risk of restricted blood flow
- Hypothyroidism: Heightened sensitivity to cold
- Acute respiratory disease: Reactivity to cold air
- Pregnancy: Avoidance as a precaution
- Other conditions: Severe anaemia, seizure disorders, deep vein thrombosis, and cancer remission within the past five years
First Visit Guide
Your first visit usually lasts about 30 minutes. Here’s what happens:
- Medical review: Complete a health questionnaire
- Preparation: Change into the provided protective clothing
- Orientation: Receive a detailed overview of the treatment and instructions
Summary
The Cryo Hub’s electric cryochamber offers a fully immersive whole-body cold exposure experience at a steady –85 °C, including head immersion, for 3–5 minutes. Unlike gas-based systems, this electric setup ensures consistent temperatures throughout, reducing common risks associated with other methods. This controlled environment supports the techniques, health benefits, and safety measures discussed earlier.
A 2017 review highlights that whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) can help lower muscle inflammation markers, speed up recovery after exercise, relieve migraines, and reduce arthritic pain.
From focused cold therapy to full-body immersion, The Cryo Hub’s electric system is designed to aid recovery, manage pain, and promote overall wellness. WBC consistently delivers reliable outcomes across both targeted and full-body treatments.
Start with a health screening and schedule your first session today to experience these benefits in a safe and controlled setting.
