Icing is a form of Cryotherapy that is a widely used treatment for managing pain, inflammation, and injury recovery. It involves the application of cold to affected areas to reduce acute swelling, numb pain, and slow down metabolic activity in tissues.

• Recommended for: Acute injury and acute post surgery inflammation.
• Not recommended for: Chronic injury, circulatory issues and nerve damage.

Cold compression therapy combines the benefits of icing and compression to reduce pain, inflammation, and swelling. It involves applying a cold source such as ice packs, gel packs, or circulating cold water along with controlled pressure to an injured or swollen area.

• Recommended for: Acute injury and post surgical recovery.
• Not recommended for: Chronic injury, those with poor circulation issues, nerve damage and avoid using before physical activity.

Cold Water Immersion (CWI) involves submerging the body in cold water (typically between 10°C and 15°C or lower) for a specific period, usually ranging from 5 to 15 minutes. It is widely used for recovery, pain relief, and inflammation reduction.

CWI is capable of achieving Cryostimulation aka thermal shock when the water temperature is below 10°C (50°F), with the most significant effects occurring around 5°C (41°F) or lower. This is NOT a cooling treatment.

When the water temperature exceeds 10°C (50°F), Cryostimulation is limited, primarily offering mild cooling effects, especially in the range of 15°C (59°F) to 20°C (68°F). However, it is not recommended for managing acute injuries, as it may not be effective enough to achieve the deeper tissue effects needed to address acute tissue metabolism and inflammation. In other words, acute injuries require stronger vasoconstriction for optimal outcomes.

• Recommended for: Mild muscle recovery, wellness and relaxation.
• Not recommended for: Acute injury, chronic pain and deep tissue inflammation.

Cold air devices are therapeutic tools that direct a stream of cool air to a specific area of the body. These devices are commonly used to alleviate pain, inflammation, and swelling, making them especially useful for treating acute injuries or as part of post-exercise recovery. Cold air devices typically utilise specialised equipment to cool the air, enabling it to be applied to the skin without direct contact.

• Recommended for: Acute injury, post-exercise recovery, pain relief and chronic inflammation.
• Not recommended for: Deep tissue injury, sub-acute injury and poor circulation areas.

Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that uses controlled cooling to eliminate fat cells. The treatment is also commonly known by its brand name, CoolSculpting. The procedure is designed to target and freeze fat cells, which then gradually break down and are naturally removed by the body’s lymphatic system.

• Recommended for: Targeting localised fat and body contouring.
• Not recommended for: Severe obesity and loose skin.