Medical Treatment at Subzero Temperatures

Medical treatment at -110°C may not sound comfortable and we’re betting it’s not, but breakthroughs in ‘whole body cryotherapy’ are proving that after a stressful workout it’s healthy to cool down, way down. Without refrigeration, the medical world would have a hard time providing the help and medical treatment it does. Most medicines require temperature control, often in the form of frozen storage and other uses of subzero temperatures; now doctors can add one more use to their long list of private medical treatment.

Science Approved Medical Treatment

A team of scientists have been studying various ways that people recover after rigorous workouts, including something out of science fiction – ‘whole body cryotherapy’. Tested on a group of experienced runners, the cryotherapy involved exposing them to temperatures of -110°C; all this in aid of the recovery. Sure temperatures that low help medical treatment in the UK with preservation for medicine and even organs, but can it really aid after a day at the gym? In short, yes. The medical treatment facilities that adopted ‘whole body cryotherapy’ reported a drop in pain and a recovery of muscle strength within the hour after physical exertion. Returning to that level of fitness took 24 hours for the nearest medical treatment.

The process involves a subject entering a prepared frozen chamber and exposing them to extreme cold for three to four minutes a session; the chamber is cooled to a temperature of 110°C. With due medical treatment consent and adequate frostbite protection the patient spends a few minutes in the chamber. During the medical treatment, average skin temperature drops to 11°C. Core temperature of the patient remains the same although it may drop slightly afterwards.

What are the main benefits?

The main draw of the medical treatment is the release of endorphins that combat pain. Patients report the experience is exhilarating and improves a variety of conditions such as psychological issues, insomnia, phantom pains and of course muscle and joint relief. While the immediate effects wear off after 6 minutes the endorphins continue to be released in the hours that follow. Curiously enough some patients have compared the medical treatment to a steam sauna, but I suspect much less comfortable.

With frozen temperatures being essential to the medical practice, it’s nice to see even more uses surfacing for them. Although this treatment is only effective for mild injuries, it is perfectly suited to athletes and acrobats. While it may not be a comfortable medical treatment, its results show that it is effective.

Sarah Mancini is a professional writer and avid health enthusiast. She keeps track of the latest medical developments from around the world. Working early in her career with chilled transport, specifically focusing on chilled delivery service for medical clients, Sarah developed a keen interest in the effects of temperature in the health industry.