Cryosauna & Zest & UMCU
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a cooling technique in which the entire body, from the feet to the top of the shoulders, is exposed to very low temperatures (-110 ° C to -196 ° C) for a short period of time. This is done with the help of a cryosauna, a cabin that is cooled with liquid nitrogen. The treatment rapidly cools the skin surface to around -1 ° C for a short period. This causes various physical reactions that have a positive effect on both the blood circulation and metabolic processes, resulting in the recovery of muscles, a strengthened immune system, and pain relief.
Aim of the project
Cryosauna Nederland B.V., in collaboration with Zest B.V., aims to develop an innovative Cryosauna 2.0.
With this sauna cryotherapy:
- the temperature can be precisely controlled across the entire cabin
- the temperature can be adjusted to each individual body
- the treatment can take place without the risk of burns
Application
The effects of cryotherapy have been scientifically investigated and proven. However, proven technology to apply cryotherapy safely and attuned to unique individual bodies is missing. As a result, cryotherapy is not yet included in the Dutch health insurance package. Consequently, the application of cryotherapy to, for example, patients with rheumatism, is not yet possible. The new cryosauna 2.0 is expected to have major impacts on this group of patients, improving well-being and enabling cost savings in healthcare. Cryotherapy can be applied by physiotherapists and with 7,700 physiotherapy practices in the Netherlands, the market for cryosaunas is substantial.
In addition to the (technical) development of the cryosauna 2.0, scientific and practical research will be conducted into the effects of cryotherapy, in particular on patients with rheumatism. As a result, more insights are gained in application possibilities. Subsequently, these insights can be used to encourage insurance companies to include cryotherapy in supplementary health plans, or even in the basic health insurance package. The proposed development of the cryosauna 2.0 is essential to enable this development.
Consortium
- Cryosauna Nederland B.V.
- Zest B.V.
- UMCU
