The ATMAN Osteopathy Center in Sophia Antipolis presented its latest acquisition on Wednesday. Vital Cryo, a cabin at -85°C where athletes and the public can seek cold treatment.
Cap, mask, gloves, and slippers, when preparing to face the “Great North” in a swimsuit, the only rule is to have your extremities well protected. Plunging your body into -85°C, even for just 3 minutes, can be painful, but according to the Japanese who were brave enough to try it first, it can also do a lot of good.
The idea is to deliberately push the body to trigger its reflexes to fight the cold. In these extreme conditions, the brain secretes, among other things, a large amount of endorphins, whose anesthetizing effects are beneficial for our body.
Better recovery, injury treatment, and performance enhancement – while this technique is particularly beneficial for elite athletes, it is not exclusively for them anymore. Indeed, if we believe its advocates, whole-body cryotherapy would also be ideal for people suffering notably from chronic rheumatism, eczema, stress, sleep disorders, or who simply wish to lose weight.
The list is still long and not exhaustive, to the point where one wonders why this miracle technique did not arrive earlier in France.
Developed in Japan as early as 1978, European countries needed time to study and ensure its effectiveness. Today, the benefits of whole-body cryotherapy are proven, and cabins like those at the ATMAN center are multiplying. Gyms, medical offices… the Alpes-Maritimes department already has 4 of these types of equipment, and it’s not going to stop anytime soon.
The only thing that could hinder the development of this practice is its cost. Expect to pay an average of €38 for a 3-minute session, unfortunately not reimbursed by social security. Considering that an effective course requires at least 5 to 10 sessions, the bill can quickly add up.
These prices are, however, understandable when we know that the ATMAN center has invested nearly €150,000 to acquire this technology.
by Jordan Perronneau
