Cryostimulation is used across a range of clinical, athletic and wellness settings for its therapeutic and recovery-related benefits. It is commonly utilised in physical therapy clinics, hospitals, high-performance training facilities and elite sports environments to assist with recovery, manage sub-acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions and support injury rehabilitation. It is also incorporated into wellness and recovery centres to promote relaxation, general wellbeing and recovery support, with some applications extending to skin health and inflammatory or autoimmune-related conditions.
Cryostimulation primarily involves exposure to extremely cold air or vapour; however, cold water exposure is also considered part of the broader category of cold exposure therapies. Cold water immersion is one of the oldest documented forms of cold therapy, with historical records suggesting that ancient civilisations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese and Japanese, used cold baths for revitalisation, recovery and therapeutic purposes dating back several millennia.
Localised Cryostimulation (Neurocryostimulation) is a focused treatment that delivers an extremely cold stream of nitrogen or CO₂ vapour to a specific area of the body for a short period (typically up to 3 minutes per area).
Unlike conventional cooling therapies, which primarily aim to lower tissue metabolism, Localised Cryostimulation is designed to trigger a neurophysiological response. The intense cold stimulus activates the autonomic nervous system and can produce systemic and contralateral effects, even though the cold is applied only to a small, targeted region.
Partial Body Cryostimulation (Neurocryostimulation) involves exposing the body, from the neck down, to extremely cold air or nitrogen vapour, typically between -110°C and -160°C (-166°F to -256°F) to elicit a physiological response to intense cold.
Cabins with the head outside are referred to as Cryosaunas, while some Cryochamber designs allow adjustable cooling height, providing a partial body option for individuals who are claustrophobic or prefer not to be fully enclosed.
This approach keeps the head outside the chamber, enabling the person to breathe room air and communicate freely with the operator while still receiving the therapeutic benefits of cold exposure.
Some Cryosaunas expose users to direct nitrogen vapour, so trained operators should monitor oxygen levels throughout the day. It is strongly recommended to use a hood over the top of the Cryosauna, through which the user places their head. This ensures a safe separation between the nitrogen vapour and the participant, enhancing both safety and comfort during the session. Electric Cryosaunas are also available and are a safer alternative to nitrogen-based systems.
Whole Body Cryostimulation (Neurocryostimulation) involves entering a Cryochamber, which can be designed for a single person or accommodate up to six participants. Larger chambers often feature a pre-chamber at around -60 °C (-76 °F), where users spend up to 30 seconds acclimating to the cold before moving through a connecting door into the main chamber, typically set between -110 °C and -160 °C (-166 °F to -256 °F), for a treatment lasting 2 – 3 minutes in total.
There are three main types of Cryochambers: nitrogen-based, synthetic air and electric. While the air inside all chambers is safe to breathe, wearing a mask is recommended to protect the airways from extreme cold and dryness and improve comfort.
Nitrogen-based Cryochambers use specialised systems to convert liquid nitrogen into ultra-cold, breathable air. Compressed air is cooled by the nitrogen and passed through a two-stage purification process that removes water, dust and other contaminants. This produces clean, dry, extremely cold air, maintaining stable temperatures in the chamber and allowing users to safely experience the therapeutic benefits of Whole Body Cryostimulation.
Cold Water Immersion is a therapeutic technique in which the body is submerged in cold water, typically between 0°C and 15°C (32°F – 59°F), for a period of up to 15 minutes.
Although CWI elicits physiological responses that differ from those of Neurocryostimulation due to the unique thermal properties of water, it can still be categorised as a form of Cryostimulation. This is because both interventions expose the body to cold stress and trigger systemic adaptive physiological responses. However, the greater thermal conductivity of water produces a distinct hormetic stress response and a different magnitude of tissue cooling compared with air and vapour-based Cryostimulation modalities.