During my academic life I have always had many doubts about the use of cryotherapy during the process of rehabilitation and recovery after intense physical activities.
I had several experiences, watched several different protocols and today I would like to share with you my vision of cryotherapy.
What is cryotherapy?
Knight defines cryotherapy as "cold therapy" the therapeutic application of any substance to the body that results in removal of body heat, thereby decreasing tissue temperature.
When should we use it?
We should use ice after joint or muscle trauma due to its high analgesia (sedation). The application of local ice is always well used in the first 24/72 hours after physical trauma.
Cryotherapy:
Therapeutic mode of subjecting a joint or muscle region under the action of ice. Its application time may exceed 20 minutes except its use in extremity regions.
Cryotherapy recuperative (immersion):
Therapeutic mode performed by many athletes of various modalities after training or competition. The temperature of the water used in the immersion baths ranges from -1C to + 5C, for a time of 3 to 10 minutes.
OBS: Regarding the application time, we should never follow a cake recipe. We cannot let the body feel comfortable in this type of therapy. The effect of adaptation is very strong in our body. So, I always indicate that the immersion time has to be changed.
Stretching and Flexibility:
Particularly I use with my athletes the stretching work during the immersion session (photo above). I believe that the relaxation effect is potentiated, further decreasing muscle spasm after intense activities.
Effects:
• Anesthesia: decreased pain, due to cooling the speed of nerve conduction decreases.
• Anti-inflammatory: the cold increases the pressure in the vessels and the greater concentration of oxygen.
• Decreased spasm: decreased involuntary muscle contraction.
Care:
We should put gloves and neoprene boots to keep the extremities warm (low circulation) during the procedure. In the absence of this material, we should keep the ends out of the water or if immersed, do not exceed 30 seconds of immersion.
Final considerations:
This work can also be performed in conjunction with heat immersion (jacuzzi / hot tub) to increase the circulatory effect of acid removal from the body and potentiate the relaxation effect.
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