Athletes continually participate in a variety of physical activities during training and practices. And, of course, with physical activity comes the possibility of injuries, ranging from mild to severe. According to a National Health Statistics Report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 8.6 million sports injuries occur each year. Every day you get on the field to practice or perform, the risk of injury is present.

 

The good news is that cryotherapy—the use of cold to treat injuries—can offer relief and recovery for athletes looking to heal from injuries and sprains. At a basic level, cold exposure causes the vascular system to direct blood to your internal organs as a protective mechanism.

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Cryotherapy helps move blood flow away from the desired area, which limits the number of inflammatory cytokines. In this case, the fewer cytokines the better, as too much inflammation will lead to swelling and pain.