cryotherapy

Cryotherapy, sometimes known as cold therapy, is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy. Cryotherapy can be used in many ways, including whole-body exposure for therapeutic health benefits, or locally to treat a variety of tissue lesions.

Cryotherapy is often used in an effort to prevent or relieve muscle pain, sprains, and swelling after soft tissue damage or surgery. When a musculoskeletal injury occurs, the body sends signals to the inflammatory cells, macrophages, which release IGF-1. IGF-1 is a hormone-insulin-like growth factor which initiates the termination of damaged tissue. In some cases, this inflammatory response can be aggravated and cause increased swelling and edema, which can prolong the recovery process.