If you know anything about cryotherapy and ice baths, you know they both involve cold temperatures. But how much do you really know about these two services? Are they virtually the same?
Below, we’ll discuss what makes these two wellness services different and which one might be best for your situation. They have several differences which make them unique from one another.
Uses
Cryotherapy and ice baths are both used for wellness purposes. Both services have the potential to reduce muscle soreness and target inflammation.
Because cryotherapy utilizes colder temperatures than its ice bath counterpart, it’s often the preferred option for alleviating widespread pain, aiding post-workout recovery, releasing feel-good endorphins, and reducing joint pain.
Effects on the Body
During and after an ice bath session, the user may experience mild mood improvements, reduced metabolic waste from the muscles, and improvement of localized muscle soreness.
In the middle of a cryotherapy session, one might notice cooling of the skin surface, increased heart rate, and a temporary surge of adrenaline. Afterward, they may experience stronger mood benefits than an ice bath, along with moderate relief of muscle soreness and less inflammation throughout their body.
Method
Ice baths are relatively self-explanatory. The user sits in a bath of cold water and ice. The temperature typically ranges from 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit.
For whole-body cryotherapy, the user will stand upright in an enclosed chamber which will release cold air. Temperatures range from -166 to -220 degrees Fahrenheit. For localized cryotherapy sessions, a special device will emit cold air onto the targeted area of the body, typically ranging from about -240 to -256 degrees Fahrenheit.
While ice baths can be done at home, cryotherapy offers a seamless setup. Our cryotherapy chambers and localized cryotherapy devices are prepped and ready to go for our guests. No crazy wait times or intensive maintenance. Our staff will take care of all this!
Duration
Due to the below-zero temperatures of cryotherapy, sessions are fast. However, the duration of cryotherapy will depend on whether you choose whole-body cryotherapy or localized cryotherapy.
Whole-body cryotherapy only lasts a few minutes, while localized cryotherapy takes about five to 10 minutes. Ice baths, on the other hand, are done for around 10 to 15 minutes per session.
In the end, both wellness services are quick, but if you’re in a time crunch, a whole-body cryotherapy session is your best bet. Also, keep in mind when done at home, an ice bath involves a more time-consuming setup process for users.
Overall Experience
So, how does the general experience differ between the two wellness services? We’re glad you asked!
Both services can offer a “cold shock” to the user upon entering the bath or chamber (or having a cryotherapy device applied to their body if getting localized cryotherapy). Afterward, users of either service may feel a calm energy and a mood boost.
What differs about the experience, though, is not only the duration and temperature exposure but the sensation. Ice bath users gradually enter cold, often icy water. Meanwhile, cryotherapy users experience a sudden surge of cold, dry air inside a chamber or from a localized tool.
What’s more, ice bath users can sit down while whole-body cryotherapy users stand upright, and those getting localized cryotherapy can either sit, stand, or lie down depending on where the device will be applied to.
Keep the overall experience in mind when selecting a wellness service you consider to be applicable to your needs, wants, and capabilities.
Are you considering cryotherapy? Here at Recovery Lab, we have both whole-body and localized cryotherapy. Contact us today to learn more about our wellness services.
