Cryotherapy refers to the use cold/ice for treatment. Since the time of Hippocrates, it has been employed commonly for pain management.
The different ways cryotherapy can be used include use of ice or gel packs, cooling sprays, whirlpools and ice massage.
The acronym R.I.C.E stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. This protocol is used during acute injuries especially in sports injuries to reduce inflammation.
How does cryotherapy work?
Exposure of the skin to cold lowers the temperature and induces vasoconstriction (means narrowing of the diameter of the blood vessels).
Lowering the temperature reduces the tissue metabolism and ultimately reduces their excitability, the extensibility and generally reduce inflammation.
Reduction of inflammation is associated with reduction in pain.
Cryotherapy is often used as an adjunct to other treatment modalities.
Cryotherapy can be employed for a localized area of the body, for a large area or the whole body. For local use, you can apply an ice pack, cooling spray etc while for large areas/ the whole body cryotherapy pools come in handy.
It has been observed in the treatment of joints that, following injury to the cartilage, low temperatures are inhibitory to the destructive enzymes that would cause further damage to the joint.
Do you need to see a paediatric orthopaedic surgeon?
Who can use cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy can be used in many conditions from acute musculoskeletal pain, chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and low back pain to treatment for cancers.
The exposure time and mode of application varies with each condition.
Precaution
Cryotherapy should only be applied temporarily to alleviate symptoms as prolonged exposure to cold can predispose to tissue damage.
Also cryotherapy should be used in individuals with intact sensation as inability to sense extreme cold can cause adverse effects.
