Dr. Rhonda Fitzpatrick is the founder of FindMyFitness, as well as an expert in nutrition, aging and disease prevention. She recently released a blog on cold therapy. The term cold therapy encompasses a variety of therapeutic modalities that involve cold exposure, including: cold water immersion, and cryotherapy. She defines cold water immersion as “submerging one's body in water typically at or below 59°F (15°C).” She defines cryotherapy as “placing ice packs on specific areas of the body, such as joints or muscles” or “whole-body exposure to cold air for a few minutes at temperatures as low as -289°F (-178°C).” Here is a summary of her blog on the benefits:
- Cold therapy may reduce inflammation.
- Cold therapy may activate antioxidant enzymes to promote cellular health.
- Cold therapy may enhance athletic performance and recovery.
- Cold therapy may boost the immune system to protect against disease.
- Cold therapy activates brown fat which may reduce the risk for cardiometabolic disease.
If you choose to practice cold therapy, she emphasizes to use caution and do so with supervision. Read more here.
