Cryogenic Chamber Therapy: the Ultimate Cold Air Solution to Aches, Pains and More

Resources:

http://abcnews.go.com/WNN/video/wonders-cryotherapy-30836758

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpw0sHtHpBI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryotherapy

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasoconstriction

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2015/09/13/cryotherapy-gives-athletes-edge/72201098/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2268011/Kim-Suozzi-23-head-cryogenically-frozen-reborn-cure-brain-cancer-found.html

http://mentalfloss.com/article/20849/quick-8-eight-people-who-have-been-cryonically-preserved-and-one-who-wasnt

http://www.cryonics.org

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/life-ice-world-crazy-cryogenics/story?id=14167348

http://columbiaurology.org/specialties/miu/cryo-ablation.html

http://www.twincities.com/health/ci_28603042/cryotherapy-businesses-deep-freeze-pro-athletes-and-grandmothers

Watch the video to learn more about how treatment in a cryogenic chamber is helping athletes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAiLN2AkTHE

Forecast:

The future of healing lies in cryogenic treatment.

Cryogenic chamber therapy: What is it?

Cryogenic therapy is the use of extremely cold air to treat many things from muscle and joint pain to the treatment of headaches. Most recently, it has been discovered to help as a cosmetic anti-aging treatment against wrinkles. Whole body cryotherapy began in 1978 in Japan, but Polish scientists furthered the concept to what we know today. In 2000, the Olympic Rehabilitation Centre opened in Poland to help injured athletes. Cryotherapy is administered through a cryogenic chamber, through which air is cooled to a frosty -256 to -220 degrees Fahrenheit by liquid nitrogen.

How does cryogenic chamber therapy work?

Cryogenic chambers can vary in size from a small room that houses three or four people to an individual tube-like structure for one. Patients are required to wear a bathing suit and protection for the eyes, face, ears, hands and feet, where frostbite is most likely to occur. A typical treatment session can last only up to 3 minutes, after which the risks of frostbite and tissue damage dramatically increase and core body temperature may fall. Extreme cold temperatures cause the skin temperature to cool as low as 41 and 54 degrees F. The physiological response to the extremely cold temperatures is vasoconstriction, a muscular contraction of the vessel walls, resulting in a narrowing of the vessels themselves, reducing blood flow to the areas affected. The opposite effect occurs when the patient steps out of the chamber and vasodilation, or widening of the vessels occur. The benefit lies in the rushing back of the blood through the vessels, releasing endorphins and causing an analgesic effect, or relief from inflammation. This relief can have lasting effects in patients with fibromyalgia, psoriasis, rheumatism, and other inflammatory issues.

Who is using cryotherapy?

In an elective situation, in a commercial/retail setting treatments can run around $90 per 3 minute session and usually 10 or more sessions are recommended for the treatment of certain conditions. This means cryotherapy is accessible to mostly the affluent. Celebrities and pro athletes are typically the ones utilizing cryogenic chamber treatments. 

Cryogenic therapy is gaining momentum with athletes and chambers are also being installed in high school and college training facilities. They are being implemented in order to help athletes recover from strenuous workouts, games and competitions. Some athletes are using cryotherapy sessions up to three times a week and report that it helps them are recovering more quickly.

Cryotherapy is also being used to effectively treat specific types of cancer and remove cancerous growths. Its effectiveness lies in the fact that it is minimally invasive and there is a low risk of complications, such as excessive bleeding.

Impacts:

Global:

Cryotherapy treatment has been popular in Europe and some parts of Asia for several years.

National:
Cryotherapy treatment centers are gaining in popularity on the east and west coasts of the United States, particularly in California and New York, but are beginning to take root in other metropolitan areas of the country.

Local:

Brandon Johnson, a former minor league basketball play and Twin Cities native has opened a cryotherapy business called "The Locker" in Minneapolis and plans to open several additional locations in the area in the next year. 

Timeline:

2 years:

Cryotherapy treatment will begin to increase in popularity. More cryotherapy centers will open up around the world. More high school and colleges will use cryotherapy in treating their athletes. Cryotherapy will make its way into mainstream health clubs and physical therapy facilities. Not only whole body treatments will increase in popularity, but use of localized treatments will increase.

20+ years:

Cryotherapy will make its way into mainstream medicine. Might even make its way into the workplace where fatigued workers can take a break in a cryochamber to rejuvenate.

Predictions:

Possible Positive Outcomes:

- Could possibly grow in popularity and personal use versions may become available to general public

- Might become more affordable as it progresses into mainstream, as some other treatments have 

- Cryotherapy treatment could possibly hold the key to slowing down the aging process

- Might be potential in treating other inflammatory diseases not yet attempted to be helped by cryotherapy

- Might be potential in treating some life-threatening illnesses

- Cryonic science has the potential to preserve or revive endangered or extinct species

- Could possibly preserve or bring people back to life

Possible Negative Outcomes:

- Cryotherapy treatments are very expensive; now mostly only accessible to the "rich and famous"

- Risks involved can be detrimental to health and reputation of therapy

- Health risks could end up outweighing benefits leading to shut down of cryotherapy research and development

- Lack of current FDA approval could prevent future growth

Region of the Future:

Biotech

 Questions/Concepts/Feedback:

1. How could the health risks of cryotherapy be removed/reduced?

2. Are there other products that could spin off the cryotherapy chamber? Smaller scale treatments?

3. Might there be potential for at-home chambers so users could use the chamber as frequently as needed.

4. Might more personal use spin-off products develop from cryotherapy?

5. Is there a possibility that costs could decrease and/or be paid for by traditional health insurance policies as cryotherapy enters mainstream medical treatment arena?

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