If you suffer from arthritis, you are definitely aware of the chronic joint pain and limited mobility that can accompany the debilitating condition. Between taking anti-inflammatory and over-the-counter pain medications, braces, hot and cold therapy, exercise or other more alternative therapies, striving to find maximum relief can be both time and energy consuming.
In general, Arthritis is defined as an acute disease caused by inflammation and swelling around the joints of the body, resulting in constant discomfort and localized pain. Daily activity can cause arthritis to be prolonged and worsened, and combined with muscle and tendon strains can result in a very painful condition with limited treatment options.
Although some turn to surgery for relief of arthritis pain, invasive procedures to help reduce the inflammation at the joints can be risky and unfortunately not as effective as many would like.
For some, surgery may be the most feasible option for helping to treat arthritis, but many of the 60 arthritis sufferers worldwide have begun to explore modern alternative treatment options to reduce pain levels.
Whole body Cryotherapy, which found it’s beginnings in Japan when it was utilized by Dr. T. Yamauchi to treat pain, inflammation and joint immobility from Rheumatoid Arthritis, is an alternative treatment method that many arthritis sufferers are now turning to for pain relief. The treatment process involves bringing the body’s surface temperature to below sub-zero temperatures in order to activate the body natural autonomic response to dangerous environments which results in the body releasing natural anti-inflammatory and pain relieving chemicals throughout the body.
In a study conducted by Metzger D1, Zwingmann C, Protz W, Jäckel WH in April of 2000, the crew tested the effects of cryotherapy on patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The group found that after application of cryotherapy to individuals with moderate to severe RA, subjects reported a significant decrease in pain with one to three sessions.
Results also included reduction in inflammation and swelling around joint regions, improved immune system levels, increase in energy and improved moods.
Because a single session of Whole Body Cryotherapy only lasts 2 to 5 minutes, many people have found the alternative treatment method easy to fit into an arthritis treatment regimens — many have reported significant reduction in pain when coupling with mobilization therapy as well as heat therapy.
Although surgery may seem like one of the only remaining options in relieving severe pain from cryotherapy, exploring and combining alternative pain treatment treatments such as Whole Body Cryotherapy may be more practical and can have lasting effects on pain relief and quality of life.