Clearly, some sports need this more than others.
“An ice bath may help you recover in terms of flushing something out of your legs, but the way this works, tiredness and soreness everywhere in your body is much less,” Alberto Salazar said in 2012. Salazar has coached several world-class runners, including Mo Farah, who won a Gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.
While some of the best athletes in the world use the therapy, it has not been approved by the FDA. Two Missouri State basketball players were injured in 2018 during a cryotherapy session when they developed serious blisters on their feet.
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly purchased a chamber to keep in his house. While the technology has been around for decades, it started to gain momentum when athletes and celebrities took to social media to show off their new recovery routines.
What it’s like to try cryotherapy
I decided to try it out for myself to see if this therapy could help a 23-year-old weekend warrior who plays hoops a few times a month.
When I arrived for my session, I was surprised at how nonchalant the employees were about throwing me into a freezing cold chamber, and that there was no waiver to sign! The only things joining you in the chamber are a pair of socks and gloves. These are to protect your toes and fingers, the most susceptible to freezing damage because it takes longer for blood to circulate to the body’s extremities.
As you stand inside watching the big digital meter go from -30° to -80° to -150°, the cold really hits you and you start shivering. It takes about 20 seconds to reach -230° F. ... The moment you step out of the chamber, your body begins to heat itself back up. It doesn’t take long to get back to your normal temperature. The soreness in my lower back from sleeping on my stomach every night was nonexistent. I felt bouncy — and had more pep in my step.
The process takes less than 10 minutes, and it costs roughly $30 to $50.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-its-like-to-experience-cryotherapy-the--230-degree-chamber-that-top-athletes-like-steph-curry-use-for-fast-recovery-2019-03-16