A new wave of technology has been introduced to Auburn in the form of Southern Cryotherapy.
The Auburn-based company has been in business for approximately 60 days, covering nine southern states.
Johnny Mann, co-owner of Southern Cryotherapy, originally created the idea.
"Southern Cryotherapy is a device company that sells whole-body cryotherapy units, which is a process that cools your body down and helps rejuvenate, revive and repair your body," said Will Faulkner, director of sales marketing.
Cryotherapy uses extreme cold on the body. At Southern Cryotherapy, the user sits inside the spherical device as it fills up with liquid nitrogen at negative 300 F.
Southern Cryotherapy is trying to be a replacement for ice baths and ice packs.
"It's more effective," said Chad Finnegan, co-owner of Southern Cryotherapy. "The time that you're in there is a lot less and it's less painful."
The treatment lasts about 3 minutes and has been popular among professional athletes.
"If you're an athlete, this is the muscle recovery of the next generation," Finnegan said.
The treatment doesn't just work for athletes; it can help with any sort of overworked, or stressed, muscles from activities such as working out at the gym, or at a normal job.
John Mann, chiropractor at Total Rehab and father of Johnny Mann, said when the cold nitrogen hits the body, blood vessels constrict, pushing on the inflammation or swelling.
When the treatment is over and the body is no longer in contact with the cold, the blood vessels expand and bring fresh oxygenated blood into the region.
John Mann said oxygen is the key healing component the body is looking for. He believes it's more effective than only using ice packs or ice baths because it doesn't just focus on one region of the body.
"With the nitrogen cryotherapy, we're able to do the entire body," John Mann said. "The benefit is that you may be coming in for a neck problem, but you know you may have a chronic ankle or something you don't even think about."
Faulkner recommends users do five treatments in close proximity to each other to get the full effect.
The Auburn community can get one treatment for $30, or buy a package.
John Mann said the treatment was safe if administered by a trained technician who knows what health risks to look for.
John Mann said some health issues may eliminate people as candidates for Southern Cryotherapy, including heart problems, some forms of diabetes, and people who are overly sensitive to ice.
"This is new science; this is new technology," John Mann said. "How much good can be derived from this, I think the sky is the limit."
For more information and updates about their new location in Auburn, go to facebook.com/SouthernCryotherapy.
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