One of the first doubts that arise, before choosing the system with which to offer a body cryotherapy service, is deciding the equipment or system to purchase.
Each manufacturer, through their marketing methods and sales techniques, will try to convince you that what they offer you is the most convenient for your business or consultation.
From my point of view, even the simplest equipment has something positive to offer, everything will depend on the use that is going to be given to it and the objective of the therapy.
Although when we talk about technology, the budget does influence the quality of the product.
In the end the choice will depend on your professional needs and budget.
With this article I will inform you objectively and without favoring any manufacturer about the different options that exist on the market, with their pros and cons so that you can evaluate for yourself what is best for you.
There are two very important differences to evaluate.
One is economical. Having to choose between a liquid nitrogen cooling system, which requires less initial investment, but is much more expensive to operate. Or an electrical system usually costs four or five times more, but with much lower maintenance costs.
The other difference is therapeutic. Choosing between whole body or partial head-out cryotherapy.
Cooling using liquid nitrogen
The nitrogen is supplied by one of the local gas companies. The approximate price of each liter is between 2 and 3 Dollars or Euros in Latin America and Spain.
It is important to know that, if the nitrogen-producing plant is not close to the distribution point, the price can still increase.
In certain regions or islands it is not possible to obtain nitrogen.
Some international companies such as Air Liquide, Carburos Metálicos, Praxair or Linde are prohibited from supplying by European order as they consider systems where the user has direct contact with nitrogen to be dangerous. But they do supply it for cryotherapy systems where the user does not have contact with the nitrogen. Later in the article I will explain how the different systems work.
Nitrogen storage can be done in special 50-liter containers or the gas company can bring it in bottles with a capacity between 120 and 200 liters.
It is true that they cool a little more than the electrical systems, but the difference is not as much as the temperature display indicates, and I will explain why. The temperature sensor is located inside just at the outlet of the nitrogen, it is as if you put your hand close to the dashboard of the car when the air conditioning comes out, the cold that you feel in your hand is greater than that received by your face. The same thing happens here, the cold that reaches the body is not as low as the temperature display indicates.
It is very important before purchasing a nitrogen system, to find out which company is going to supply it, under what conditions and at what price.
Electric cooling
They generate cold using compressors, similar to those used by air conditioners, but more powerful.
In some cases a three-phase electrical installation is necessary, and its consumption varies between 10 and 50 kw/h depending on the model and manufacturer.
It is necessary to install a refrigerant motor outside to cool the system, very similar to air conditioning compressors only a little larger, although quieter because they are only radiators.
It is the most sustainable option that exists mainly because CO2 emissions are avoided in truck delivery.
Whole body treatments
True whole body cryotherapy is when the body is completely inside the cold, including the head.
99% of the medical studies carried out on the benefits of cryotherapy are based on this system.
In the following link you can find literature on cryotherapy in English.
Let's think that the objective of body cryotherapy is to give the body a cold shock, so that it reacts and protects itself naturally. This is why it is so important to cool the head, since most of the thermal sensors are located in the upper part of the body.
With a full-body camera, many more business possibilities open up, being able to offer an excellent cryotherapy service to many more users, with or without medical pathologies, professional athletes looking to recover or people who do it to improve their well-being at short, medium or long term
Partial body treatments (head out)
The neck and head remain outside because there is no oxygen to breathe inside. Here we are losing a lot of therapeutic action due to everything explained in the previous point.
From my point of view and that of other professionals with extensive experience in their use, it is a good system limited to muscle recovery in athletes and use in physiotherapy as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.
Cryosaunas (nitrogen) for partial body
They produce cold thanks to a liquid nitrogen tank that is at -190º. When part of the nitrogen is mixed with air, it changes from liquid to gaseous form, and this vapor is directed through ducts to the cabin where the user is.
The user's neck and head always remain outside the cabin and the cold, there is no oxygen to breathe inside.
The temperature is variable, the nitrogen vapor that cools the cabin is blown out at times when the valve that allows it to pass opens.
All models have a similar consumption, three liters to cool down and then 3 liters to perform a three-minute treatment.
Electric consumption is usually quite low, between 1.5 and 2.5 Kw/h depending on the manufacturer.
They are the most economical systems that can be found with prices between €20,000 and €40,000 depending on the manufacturer.
The expenditure on nitrogen is quite high, carrying out about 300 monthly treatments can rise between €2,500 and €3,500
Electric cabins for whole body
Their main advantage is that these systems allow for full-body treatments and because they have a very low operating cost.
The user does not have a feeling of confinement because the access door is made of transparent glass and they are informed that, although it is obviously closed, they can leave at any time.
The temperature is fixed, stable and real. Depending on the compressors used, they can generate temperatures of -60, -85 or -110 degrees Celsius.
You can find variants with a single individual chamber, some a little larger where two people can fit, or also double and triple chambers.
The purchase of this equipment time requires a much greater investment than other systems with prices that vary between €75,000 and €250,000
Nitrogen cabins for whole body
They use nitrogen to cool but do not inject it in the form of vapor where the user is. The air inside is the same as that outside and the user can remain in full leather.
It takes advantage of the cold of the nitrogen to cool a radiator which cools the air that enters the cabin.
It is an excellent system that provides a little more cold than electric ones. The problem is the very high consumption of nitrogen, between 2 and 3 times more than cryosaunas.
Click on the following link to find information about different cryotherapy equipment:
I hope this article has been useful to you.
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