-
Advertorial
-
FOCUS
-
Guide
-
Lifestyle
-
Tech and Vogue
-
TechandScience
-
CHTF Special
-
Nanshan
-
Futian Today
-
Hit Bravo
-
Special Report
-
Junior Journalist Program
-
World Economy
-
Opinion
-
Diversions
-
Hotels
-
Movies
-
People
-
Person of the week
-
Weekend
-
Photo Highlights
-
Currency Focus
-
Kaleidoscope
-
Tech and Science
-
News Picks
-
Yes Teens
-
Budding Writers
-
Fun
-
Campus
-
Glamour
-
News
-
Digital Paper
-
Food drink
-
Majors_Forum
-
Speak Shenzhen
-
Shopping
-
Business_Markets
-
Restaurants
-
Travel
-
Investment
-
Hotels
-
Yearend Review
-
World
-
Sports
-
Entertainment
-
QINGDAO TODAY
-
In depth
-
Leisure Highlights
-
Markets
-
Business
-
Culture
-
China
-
Shenzhen
-
Important news
在线翻译:
szdaily -> Lifestyle -> 
Is cryotherapy the fountain of youth?
    2016-06-03  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

    DEMI LOVATO has found a chilly way to recover from her intense workout sessions. The 23-year-old singer shared a Snapchat video recently that showed her peeking out of a medieval-looking cryotherapy chamber, where temperatures dip as low as -150 degrees Celsius to help soothe sore muscles after exercising. Lovato captioned the video “Rehabbin...,” likely referring to the grueling workout she did the day before.

    Lovato is the latest celebrity to tout the benefits of the freezing treatment. In 2015, Lindsay Lohan posted a photo on Instagram of herself in a swimsuit trying the therapy, which garnered more than 52,000 likes.

    So what exactly is cryotherapy, and how safe is it? The treatment involves standing in a special tank that exposes the body to freezing temperatures for two to three minutes. The therapy reportedly has an anti-inflammatory effect — and it’s no surprise that it’s not for the faint of heart.

    According to Liam Hennessy, an expert in cryotherapy, “it’s not like sticking your hand in an ice bucket or taking an ice bath — this is extreme cold.”

    “Whole body exposure is like stepping into a butcher’s fridge,” he told CNN.

    To achieve the subzero temperatures required for whole body cryotherapy (WBC), two methods are typically used: liquid nitrogen and refrigerated cold air. During these exposures, individuals wear minimal clothing, which usually consists of shorts for males and shorts and a crop top for females. Gloves, a woollen headband covering the ears, and a nose and mouth mask, in addition to dry shoes and socks, are commonly worn to reduce the risk of cold-related injury. The first WBC chamber was built in Japan in the late 1970s, but WBC was not introduced to Europe until the 1980s, and has only been used in the United States and Australia in the past decade.

    Initially used in clinics to treat patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, WBC has now been implemented in many spas and athletic training facilities. Along with reducing swelling and inflammation, some claim the arctic treatment boosts metabolism, makes skin look smoother, and improves sleep.

    “It stimulates the production of anti-inflammatory proteins, where it stimulates collagen production in your skin,” said Jonas Kuehne, the medical director of Cryohealthcare, an American company providing the treatment.

    However, there isn’t much research to prove — or disprove — many of the reported benefits.

    The therapy also isn’t risk-free. In 2015, Chelsea Ake-Salvacion, who worked at a Nevada spa that offered cryotherapy, decided to hop into one of the chambers at the end of the day to relieve sore muscles. The 24-year-old was found dead the next day, “rock-hard solid,” according to CNN. Although the cause of death is still being investigated, some say Ake-Salvacion’s mistake was going into the chamber when she was by herself at the spa.

    The tragedy hasn’t halted the popularity of cryotherapy among celebrities and athletes, and, in fact, Ake-Salvacion’s employer, Rejuvenice, still stands by the therapy. “We firmly believe in whole-body cryotherapy treatments for pain management, athletic recovery, detoxification, and a variety of other ailments,” the company said in a statement, according to CNN. “Millions of treatments have been given safely all over the world for more than 20 years.”(SD-Agencies)

深圳报业集团版权所有, 未经授权禁止复制; Copyright 2010, All Rights Reserved.
Shenzhen Daily E-mail:szdaily@szszd.com.cn