FAQ

There are numerous benefits to Whole-body and local Cryotherapy treatments. For athletes and those in training (marathons, triathlons, etc…), Whole Body and Localized Cryotherapy are used to help relieve chronic pain, decrease inflammation, speed recovery time, increase athletic performance, and reduce delayed onset muscle soreness. Whole Body Cryotherapy treatments are beneficial for everyday health, wellness, and beauty benefits. Since the outer layer of skin is lowered, capillaries and blood vessels undergo vasoconstriction, immediately followed by vasodilation. This causes the body to release toxins and feel good endorphins. The skins exposure to extreme cold also causes the body to increase its metabolic rate, burning between 500 to 800 calories. Some additional benefits include: pain relief from chronic medical conditions, increased circulation throughout your body, treatment of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. This cutting edge treatment assists with clearing of skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and acne, reduction in the appearance of cellulite, and tighter, more youthful looking skin.

The Cryosauna fills with a dry chill that drops the ambient temperature to a range of -130ºF to -184ºF, lowering the clients skin surface temperature by 30-50 degrees.

Am I going to freeze during my Cryotherapy session?
No, you won’t freeze! Cryotherapy involves dry, hyper-cooled air flowing over the skin surface, so 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.   Your core body temperature never actually drops and protective gloves and footwear further protect you from any cold related injury. But, you’ll probably feel cold. And while experiences may vary, many patients of whole body cryotherapy report a euphoric sensation during the treatment. This may be explained by a rush of endorphins and adrenalin produced by the body in response to the skin receptors perceiving extreme cold. ​ We haven’t had anyone chicken out on us yet, and we are confident you won’t too!

The air is very dry, some people don’t even shiver. The cooled air flows over the skin, which in turn, creates the beneficial results. This process never freezes the skin tissues or organs. Only the sensation of being cold is perceived. Since the cold from Whole Body Cryotherapy only penetrates the surface of the skin, you will experience a chill to the outer surface of your body. Your vital organs, muscles and tissues will all remain at their normal body temperature. Cryotherapy improves circulation throughout the body and stimulates production of brown fat, so your future ability to tolerate cold should improve.

Glastonbury Cryotherapy provides every client with slippers and gloves that are used to protect your extremities during the treatment.  Please bring a fresh, dry pair of socks with you.  Men are required to wear boxers or underwear. Women typically will go naked, so please bring a bath towel to cover up while getting in to the cryo sauna.  All clients must remove all jewelry and exterior metal/body piercings from the neck down. Additionally, it is recommended that you pat yourself dry with a towel and do not apply oils, lotions, or cologne immediately prior to treatment.

Why do I need socks and gloves? 

The method of hyper-cooling the skin is so sudden that the body is triggered to pull blood from the extremities to protect the body’s core temperature. The vessels around the core then constrict, holding the blood in the core. We simply protect the areas that are most affected by this reaction to ensure your comfort and safety during your exposure.

Cryotherapy 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-surgically to accelerate the healing process and reduce pain without the side effects of pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. Younger clients under the age of 18, can use Whole Body Cryotherapy with parent’s consent.

Yes! Numerous clinical studies have concluded that Whole Body Cryotherapy is safe when performed on ideal candidates. And at Glastonbury Cryotherapy we take every measure to ensure your safety and well being while striving to make the treatment as comfortable as possible at the same time. Additionally, the cryotherapy machine is equipped with top safety features and is monitored by a medical care professional at all times. You are never in the machine alone and your head is above the nitrogen gas at all times.

No, it isn’t. Nitrogen is a friendly, non-toxic, natural 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.

Only 3 minutes. During this time your technician will talk you through the entire process.

Yes! It is safe either way.  If you exercise before whole body cryotherapy, you will experience increased energy and greater recovery due to the reduction in inflammation Ten minutes of light exercise post cryotherapy will induce more rapid vasodilation of the blood vessels and capillaries and extend the period of analgesia. It is also ideal post-workout to speed athletic recovery and ease sore muscles. An advantage of cryotherapy over ice therapy is that tissues and muscle are not frozen.

It doesn’t. You are simply unable to achieve the same results with an ice bath. Two to three minutes in the Cryosauna, which is a cold, dry nitrogen vapor, is equivalent to 20-30 minutes in an ice bath without the uncomfortable feeling of submerging in ice cold water. The nitrogen vapor chills the top skin layers and cold receptors lowering the outer body’s temp 30-50 degrees. This causes the brain to restrict blood flow to your extremities, which is the bodies natural fight-or-flight response to extreme cold. The body reacts to the Whole Body Cryotherapy treatment by releasing anti-inflammatory proteins and endorphins resulting in super-charged blood. Fifteen minutes in an ice bath of cold water initially causes the body to move blood to the extremities and results in a lowering of the body’s core temperature. Ice baths do no supercharge the blood like Cryotherapy.

During each session the body releases endorphins, which are your “feel good” hormones. The effects from each session last at least 6–8 hours. As with any new regimen, consistency is key and increased results will be noted with regular use. Many report a higher pain tolerance when exposure is pre-workout, and decreased inflammation is noted with a post- workout exposure. The more treatments you do in close succession, the longer the endorphin high lasts. Many clients also report improvements in their sleep quality after Cryotherapy. Muscle aches and stiff joints also feel a sense of relief. Cryosauna sessions will also increase your metabolic rate, burning 500-800 calories that day.  Whole body cryotherapy used on a regular basis can help your body reset it’s metabolism.

Yes, you can. The chamber is open at the top and your entire head remains exposed to the room and above the Cryosauna, so you are never fully enclosed. You will remain in complete control as the door is never locked and you can step out if you ever experience discomfort. A staff member is there through the entire process until the session has ended. Clients breathe room-air and an oxygen monitor is operating at all times to ensure smooth operation and safety.

Cryotherapy is very well tolerated and has minimal risks. Systolic blood pressure during the procedure can increase by 10 points but will reverse after the procedure as peripheral circulation returns to normal. Allergic reactions to extreme cold (chilblain), claustrophobia, anxiety are rare. Activation of some viral conditions (cold sores, etc.) due to stimulation of the immune system can occur.  Protective clothing (socks, gloves, undergarments) must be dry in order to avoid chilblain.

Who should not use whole body cryotherapy? 

The following conditions are contraindications to whole body cryotherapy: Pregnancy, severe Hypertension (BP> 180/100), acute or recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, cardiac pacemaker, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, venous thrombosis, acute or recent cerebrovascular accident, uncontrolled seizures, Raynaud’s Syndrome, fever, tumor disease, symptomatic lung disorders, bleeding disorders, severe anemia, infection, cold allergy (being allergic to cold), acute kidney and urinary tract diseases. *Any client with a recent history( within the last six months) of cardiac disease or episodes will be required to have a physicians statement clearing them to try whole body cryotherapy. Children under 18 must have parental consent and have a parent present during treatment.

No-shows and appointments not cancelled 24 hours prior to appointment time will be charged full price for session or docked a session from their package.  We will automatically charge the credit card on file.