How Much Does Cryotherapy Cost?
Cryotherapy has been said to be “an ice pack on steroids.”
Those who suffer from chronic pain step into a chamber for a few minutes, where the intense cold is believed to minimize inflammation from injuries to help with the recovery process.
Cold therapy has been used by ages, and proponents say this therapy can help reduce your skin temperature, constrict your blood vessels and help you feel energized once the session has been completed.
How much does cryotherapy cost?
A single whole body session can cost anywhere from $20 to $80, and the cost will really depend on your geographical market, the type of cryotherapy and the center you visit. At most centers, if you opt for a package or sign up for a monthly membership, this can bring the session costs down by more than 30 percent. These monthly memberships can range from $150 to $250 and can offer anywhere from six to unlimited sessions in a month.
At some centers, they can also offer a localized cryotherapy option, which can target a particular body part. These sessions, unlike a whole body session, can cost about 20 to 40 percent less.
Cryo Facial treatments, a procedure designed to target the face only, will increase the collagen within the face and also help decrease your pore size. This treatment option, from our research, can be the priciest, costing anywhere from $50 to $85 per session, on average.
Cryology™, a center offered in Alpharetta, Georgia, offers whole body cryotherapy sessions for $40 per session, but if you’re a member, it will drop to $20 per session.
The CryoUSA Active Recovery Centers, based in Texas, offer three whole body sessions for $150 and 10 whole body sessions for $450. Like Cryology™, they also offer multiple monthly membership options that allow you to save more.
Cryotherapy overview
During the treatment, you will first be asked to wear the appropriate garments. For men, this will include either close-fitting shorts or nothing at all. For women, shorts and a sports bra is recommended; however, women can wear nothing at all as well. Both men and women will be asked to wear gloves and socks to protect their feet and fingers from the cold exposure. When it’s time to step into the chamber, a staff member will watch as you step inside the cylindrical chamber that’s about the height of your shoulders, leaving your head and neck exposed. After disrobing, your body will then be sprayed with liquid nitrogen or refrigerated air, followed by the temperatures dropping to -250 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on how well you react to the therapy, you will sit inside the chamber for two to four minutes.
Once the session ends, you will then be asked to perform a cardiovascular routine to warm your body back up.
Tips to know:
This isn’t an FDA approved procedure and there isn’t much in terms of research for whole-body cryotherapy as a medical treatment. Most of the information you see online will come from anecdotal evidence from those who have experienced it. Those who suffer from musculoskeletal pain or even headaches may want to try this treatment to see if it can help. Aside from this, Scottsdale Cryotherapy says it can help with arthritis, chronic pain, stress, psoriasis, weight loss, multiple sclerosis, depression, fibromyalgia, muscle spasms, skin disorders, fatigue, asthma, sleep disorders and much more.
Cryotherapy side effects can often leave you with some unusual sensations after the session is complete such as a numbness or a tingling feeling. It can also irritate the skin and even cause frostbite if your skin were to touch the sides of the chamber.
Is cryotherapy safe? As mentioned, this procedure isn’t approved by the FDA and hasn’t been cleared for medical purposes, and currently, no group has been tracking the injuries in regards to this device. A recent review article published in the Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine, “Until further research is available, athletes should remain cognizant that less expensive modes of cryotherapy, such as a local ice-pack application or cold-water immersion, offer comparable physiological and clinical effects to [whole body cryotherapy.”
How can I save money?
Cryotherapy sessions are often offered on Groupon.com for new customers.
Many local centers will offer customers a first-time discount or package opportunity. Check out a local center’s website or even contact them to see if they can help you save money.
As noted above, many centers offer membership packages for its clients. These memberships will work a lot like signing up for karate or a yoga studio, for instance. You will pay a certain fixed monthly price, and depending on the package you buy, it will include a certain number of sessions you can take advantage of, along with other benefits. Generally, the more you spend per month, the more you will get. To give you an example, The Cryo Clinic offers three membership options, with prices ranging from $150 to $250 per month. The $250 per month package will include unlimited sessions, whereas the $150 per month package will include eight cryotherapy sessions.
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