If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Cryotherapy or the use of extreme cold temperatures claims to cure quite a few problems. Granted, there are a few studies here and there which point toward possible improvements in chronic headaches, muscles soreness after working out, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

What happens is that you enter a spa like structure where the air temperature is very cold like below minus 110 Celsius, which by the way is really cold. You wear ear muffs and other minimal clothing such as shorts. You stay in there for only two to four minutes and according to some dubious advertising you feel a whole lot better.

PT Barnum once famously stated that a sucker is born every minute. Sure, you might be out a few bucks, but hey it might be worth a try right?

For one thing there are simply no good studies which point toward positive effects of cryotherapy. Anyone can quote studies but if these studies aren’t designed well, then the results are questionable. In fact, Cochrane review, a well respected group of medical researchers, found that there is questionable evidence as to whether cryotherapy works for most things. And then there was the recent death in Nevada. A young female, who actually worked at one local cryotherapy facility, decided on a whim to try another session and was found several hours later dead.

My advice is too stay away from cryotherapy and for muscle soreness stretch, take some Ibuprofen or Tylenol and call it a day. There are reasonably effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis and headaches.