Benefits of a whole-body cryotherapy for athletes
Author: Kratsova Elizaveta
Author: Kratsova Elizaveta
In modern sports, recovery is just as important as training. Elite athletes push their bodies to the limit in pursuit of peak performance, and proper recovery strategies can mean the difference between winning and burning out. One of the latest techniques for recovery is a whole-body cryotherapy - the practice of using extreme cold to stimulate healing, reduce pain, and enhance overall performance.
Cryotherapy has moved beyond its clinical origins to become a mainstream tool in athletic recovery. From professional footballers to Olympic sprinters, athletes are stepping into freezing chambers in hopes of gaining a recovery edge. But what exactly does cryotherapy do, and why are athletes embracing it?
For athletes, the appeal of cryotherapy lies primarily in its impact on inflammation and muscle soreness. High-intensity training and competition create microscopic damage within muscle fibers, often resulting in stiffness and discomfort that can last for days. By constricting blood vessels and slowing cellular activity, cold exposure helps reduce swelling and inflammation. Once the body warms again, circulation improves, carrying oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissue and flushing away waste products. This cycle of constriction and dilation accelerates the recovery process, leaving athletes feeling fresher and ready to resume training sooner, preventing overtraining.
But is it the only benefit for athletes? The answer is no, there are a lot more advantages of cryotherapy other than that, such as:
Cryotherapy has moved beyond its clinical origins to become a mainstream tool in athletic recovery. From professional footballers to Olympic sprinters, athletes are stepping into freezing chambers in hopes of gaining a recovery edge. But what exactly does cryotherapy do, and why are athletes embracing it?
For athletes, the appeal of cryotherapy lies primarily in its impact on inflammation and muscle soreness. High-intensity training and competition create microscopic damage within muscle fibers, often resulting in stiffness and discomfort that can last for days. By constricting blood vessels and slowing cellular activity, cold exposure helps reduce swelling and inflammation. Once the body warms again, circulation improves, carrying oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissue and flushing away waste products. This cycle of constriction and dilation accelerates the recovery process, leaving athletes feeling fresher and ready to resume training sooner, preventing overtraining.
But is it the only benefit for athletes? The answer is no, there are a lot more advantages of cryotherapy other than that, such as:
- Reducing Joint Pain and Injury RecoveryCryotherapy helps athletes manage joint pain and recover from injuries by using extreme cold to reduce inflammation and swelling. The treatment eases pain almost instantly by numbing nerves, while improved circulation after the session speeds up healing and tissue repair.
- Analgesic (pain-relieving) effectsWhole-body cryotherapy numbs nerve activity and reduces pain perception, offering relief from muscle soreness, joint pain, and injury-related discomfort.
- Prevention of overuse issuesUsed regularly, whole-body cryotherapy can serve as a preventive strategy, helping athletes manage micro-injuries and inflammation before they become serious problems.
- Exercise-like metabolic effectsCold exposure stimulates the release of myokines (muscle-derived signaling proteins) in ways similar to exercise, suggesting potential benefits for metabolism, weight control, and even conditions like type 2 diabetes.
Other than that, multiple studies have proven that cryotherapy also has a positive effect on mental health and lowers stress leves.
Exposure to extreme cold triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. These hormonal changes create a sense of euphoria and well-being that athletes often describe as a mental reset. In addition, cryotherapy sessions can reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that, when elevated for too long, can impair recovery, disrupt sleep, and even weaken the immune system. Lower cortisol means athletes not only feel calmer but also recover more effectively, since chronic stress is known to slow down healing.
Improved sleep quality is another key mental health benefit. By calming inflammation, lowering stress hormones, and promoting endorphin release, cryotherapy helps the body transition into deeper, more restorative sleep cycles. For athletes, sleep is one of the most critical pillars of recovery, influencing not only performance but also emotional resilience.
In essence, cryotherapy offers a dual recovery pathway: while it supports muscles and joints, it also restores the nervous system and mental state. This combination makes it a particularly powerful tool for athletes, who need not only strong bodies but also clear, focused, and resilient minds.
Exposure to extreme cold triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. These hormonal changes create a sense of euphoria and well-being that athletes often describe as a mental reset. In addition, cryotherapy sessions can reduce levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that, when elevated for too long, can impair recovery, disrupt sleep, and even weaken the immune system. Lower cortisol means athletes not only feel calmer but also recover more effectively, since chronic stress is known to slow down healing.
Improved sleep quality is another key mental health benefit. By calming inflammation, lowering stress hormones, and promoting endorphin release, cryotherapy helps the body transition into deeper, more restorative sleep cycles. For athletes, sleep is one of the most critical pillars of recovery, influencing not only performance but also emotional resilience.
In essence, cryotherapy offers a dual recovery pathway: while it supports muscles and joints, it also restores the nervous system and mental state. This combination makes it a particularly powerful tool for athletes, who need not only strong bodies but also clear, focused, and resilient minds.
Famous athletes that use cryotherapy as a recovery tool
Cristiano Ronaldo is a strong advocate for cryotherapy, stating, "I use cryotherapy, cold showers, compression chambers. All of that trains my body and mind for high performance. I don't just play football—I live it."
LeBron James incorporates cryotherapy into his rigorous recovery regimen, which reportedly costs him $1.5 million annually. This biohacking routine includes cryotherapy, red light therapy, hyperbaric chamber sessions, and a strict sleep regimen, all aimed at reducing inflammation, boosting recovery, and enhancing overall well-being.
Novak Djokovic has highlighted the benefits of cryotherapy in his recovery process, noting, "I think it really helps—not with muscle but more with recovery after an exhausting set."
Usain Bolt has expressed his appreciation for cryotherapy, saying, "I love the treatment and it's great after training."
Tom Brady emphasizes the importance of recovery in his training regimen. He has been known to use cryotherapy as part of his recovery process, stating, "Recovery is key to being able to perform at your best."
Conor McGregor is a strong advocate for cryotherapy. He has expressed that using cryotherapy has made his body feel "revived". McGregor emphasizes the importance of recovery in his training routine, stating, "I really started focusing on my health. Everyone trains hard and eats right, but what about recovery?"
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