Gyms & Health Clubs

It is quite commonly stated that ice baths reduce lactic acid but this is not the case. Lactic acid, or lactate, occurs when the body gets into an oxygen debt situation i.e. is functioning anaerobically. When the level of activity ceases, or reduces sufficiently, in simple terms the body can acquire surplus oxygen, which is used to convert the lactic acid back to its normal pyruvate / pyruvic acid state.

According to Gregory Dupont, who presented at the FIFA sponsored Sports Injury Summit held at Wembley in 2013 the main precursor of injury is fatigue. Further research investigated the common strategies for aiding recovery, minimising fatigue and, thereby, lowering the risk of injury.

The conclusion was good diet, good sleep, hydration [all lifestyle factors] plus cold water immersion were the main scientifically proven methods of aiding recovery and minimising fatigue.

The other side of the coin is performance and here we find that fatigue inhibits performance. So if we can manage fatigue by improving fitness and aiding recovery the outcome is improved performance and lowered risk of injury.

Ice bath therapy is a factor of time and temperature. The higher the temperature the longer is the required duration.

In the past most researchers used a time of 10, 15 or even 20 minutes at typically 10°C to 15°C [50F to 59F]. The problem with the longer sessions is that the temperature is not maintained unless you constantly add more ice. And the colder water floats at the top unless you constantly stir the water. In practice, most people sit still as the body warms the water around the skin making it more tolerable.

However, this strategy can be counter-productive as the generally recognised therapeutic tissue temperature of 12°C to 15°C cannot be readily achieved in traditional ice baths.

Modern ice baths do not use ice but have a digitally controlled chiller maintaining the temperature at a pre-set level throughout the therapy session. This enables both lower temperatures and shorter sessions to achieve an improved therapeutic effect.

Also, when the ice bath has jets, like the CryoSpa, there is chilling by both conduction and convection (wind chill) leading to a much more penetrating cold and ensuring the tissue is chilled to the therapeutic level.

Many elite football clubs, rugby clubs and Olympic training facilities are now using temperatures in the 6°C to 10°C (42F to 50F) range with some even as low as 4°C (39F). When combined with the windchill effect the therapy sessions are most often in the 3 to 6 minute range.

CET have many clients charging sporting & non-sporting members of the public for CryoSpa therapy on a pay-per-use basis.

These clients are typically sports therapy & physical therapy clinics, health clubs, gyms, recovery & wellness facilities and hotels.

A single CET CryoSpa unit can generate over £40,000 / $50,000 / €45,000 per annum while improving athlete outcomes and growing your existing business.