Red light therapy and photobiomodulation work at a cellular level — stimulating mitochondrial energy production, reducing inflammation, accelerating tissue repair and supporting the body's own healing processes. This complete guide explains the science, the evidence, and what to expect from whole body PBM and THOR laser therapy at Aim Health, Hoylake.
WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPY COMPLETE GUIDE
Whole Body Cryotherapy — Aim Health Hoylake, Wirral
Whole Body Cryotherapy: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about how whole body cryotherapy works, what the evidence shows, and what to expect from a session at Aim Health, Hoylake.
Whole body cryotherapy involves briefly exposing the entire body to extreme cold — at Aim Health our Mecotec chamber reaches minus 87 degrees Celsius — for two to four minutes. In that short window, the body undergoes a powerful cascade of physiological responses that produce lasting anti-inflammatory, analgesic, metabolic and recovery benefits that extend well beyond the session itself.
What is whole body cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is not an ice bath. It uses dry, electrically cooled air rather than water, making it significantly more comfortable and producing a more consistent, measurable physiological response. The cold does not penetrate deep into the body — it acts on the skin’s cold receptors, triggering a whole-body nervous system and immune response that works from the inside out.
The science behind cryotherapy is well-established. It has been used by elite athletes for decades, studied extensively for conditions ranging from inflammatory arthritis to chronic pain to mental health, and is increasingly recognised as one of the most efficient ways to trigger the body’s natural anti-inflammatory and recovery machinery in a single short session.
At Aim Health in Hoylake we use the Mecotec electric cryo chamber — the world leader in electric whole body cryotherapy, 100% German-made, with over 15 years of manufacturing experience. Sessions last two to four minutes. The results build cumulatively across a programme of sessions.
How whole body cryotherapy works — the science
The effects of whole body cryotherapy begin the moment you step into the chamber and continue for hours — and in some cases days — after you leave. The mechanism is not simply cold. It is the body’s response to cold.
Vasoconstriction and blood redistribution
Within seconds of cold exposure, peripheral blood vessels constrict rapidly — vasoconstriction — diverting blood away from the extremities and towards the core to protect vital organs. This triggers an immediate reduction in peripheral inflammation, as the blood carrying inflammatory mediators is pulled away from inflamed tissue.
At the same time, the sympathetic nervous system activates. Norepinephrine — one of the body’s primary anti-inflammatory and mood-regulating neurotransmitters — is released in significant quantities. Studies show whole body cryotherapy produces a two to three fold increase in norepinephrine levels — one of the primary mechanisms behind both the anti-inflammatory and the mood-elevating effects of the therapy.
The rewarming response — vasodilation and repair
When you leave the chamber, the body rewarms rapidly. Blood vessels dilate — vasodilation — and oxygenated blood floods back into peripheral tissue. This rewarming flush delivers oxygen, nutrients and immune cells to tissue that has just been in a state of reduced circulation, creating conditions highly favourable for repair and regeneration.
This vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation is a powerful stimulus for tissue repair — the same fundamental cycling principle behind the therapeutic mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Cold shock proteins and cellular repair
Cold exposure triggers the production of cold shock proteins — particularly RNA-binding motif protein 3 (RBM3) — which play a critical role in cellular repair, synaptic regeneration and neuroprotection. These proteins have been studied in the context of neurological recovery, sleep regulation and cellular health, and represent one of the mechanisms by which regular cryotherapy produces benefits that extend well beyond simple inflammation reduction.
Cytokine modulation and immune rebalancing
Whole body cryotherapy produces significant reductions in pro-inflammatory cytokines — particularly IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α — the same inflammatory signals elevated in chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, post-viral fatigue and inflammatory skin conditions. Regular cryotherapy progressively lowers the inflammatory baseline, rebalancing the immune environment over a course of sessions.
Endorphin and neurohormone release
Cold exposure triggers a significant release of endorphins — the body’s natural pain-relieving and mood-elevating molecules. It also stimulates dopamine release, producing the characteristic post-session elevation in mood, energy and mental clarity that most clients notice immediately after a session and which persists for several hours.
Metabolic effects
The body burns significant calories generating heat after a cryotherapy session, with studies showing increased basal metabolic rate for several hours post-session. Regular cryotherapy also supports mitochondrial efficiency and renewal, helping cells produce energy more effectively — relevant not only for weight management but for the energy restoration goals of clients recovering from chronic fatigue and long COVID.
Two to four minutes at minus 87 degrees Celsius. The session is brief. The physiological response it triggers is not.
The Mecotec chamber at Aim Health — why electric is better than nitrogen
At Aim Health in Hoylake we use the Mecotec electric whole body cryotherapy chamber — the world leader in electric cryo technology, 100% German-made with over 15 years of manufacturing experience.
Why electric cryotherapy is superior to nitrogen
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Consistent uniform temperature throughout
Electric cryotherapy maintains a consistent minus 87 degrees Celsius throughout the chamber. Nitrogen-based systems produce a temperature gradient — colder at the bottom, warmer at the top — meaning the exposure is uneven and the therapeutic stimulus is less predictable. Every Mecotec session delivers the full physiological stimulus consistently.
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Three fan settings for enhanced skin cooling
The Mecotec system has three different fan settings that enhance the skin cooling effect beyond what traditional nitrogen-based machines achieve. The movement of cold air across the skin produces a more effective cooling stimulus than still cold air at the same temperature — the wind chill effect, precisely controlled.
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Safer — no oxygen displacement risk
Nitrogen-based systems carry a small risk of oxygen displacement in the chamber environment. Electric systems carry no such risk. Clients breathe normal air throughout the session.
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Large enough for two people
Our chamber is large enough for two people — making it possible to share a session with a partner or friend. Our team is present throughout every session. Temperature is taken before and after. All necessary protective equipment is provided.
What conditions does whole body cryotherapy help?
Whole body cryotherapy has one of the broadest evidence bases of any non-invasive therapeutic intervention. The following conditions have particular support in the clinical literature and are among the most common reasons clients come to Aim Health.
Chronic fatigue and long COVID
The anti-inflammatory effects of cryotherapy directly address the elevated cytokine environment that perpetuates chronic fatigue and post-viral illness. Cold shock protein production supports cellular repair and mitochondrial renewal. Norepinephrine release supports the energy and mood dysregulation that characterises these conditions. Regular cryotherapy is most effective in combination with hyperbaric oxygen therapy, red light therapy and Rebalance Impulse — addressing the fatigue cycle from multiple directions simultaneously. Read our dedicated hub: Chronic Fatigue and Long COVID — How Aim Health’s Therapies Help.
Inflammatory skin conditions — eczema and psoriasis
Cryotherapy reduces the systemic inflammatory signals that drive eczema and psoriasis flare-ups — not by treating the surface of the skin but by addressing the immune environment from the inside out. The significant reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines produced by regular sessions progressively calms the immune overreaction that drives these conditions. Read our dedicated article: Cryotherapy for Eczema and Skin Conditions.
Chronic pain and inflammatory arthritis
Cryotherapy has one of the strongest evidence bases for pain relief of any non-invasive intervention — with studies in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia and chronic musculoskeletal pain consistently showing significant reductions in pain scores, stiffness and inflammatory markers. The combination of cytokine reduction, endorphin release and improved circulation produces meaningful pain relief that builds across a course of sessions.
Sports recovery and performance
Cryotherapy is widely used by elite athletes for post-training recovery — reducing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), accelerating recovery from training loads, reducing injury-related inflammation, and supporting the repair of micro-damage from high-intensity training. Studies show meaningful improvements in strength, endurance and recovery rates with regular sessions.
Sleep and energy
Cryotherapy supports sleep quality through several mechanisms — norepinephrine release improves the nervous system’s capacity to transition into rest states, endorphin release reduces pain and discomfort that disrupts sleep, and the anti-inflammatory effects address the systemic inflammation that interferes with sleep architecture. Many clients report improved sleep as one of the earliest changes they notice from a programme of sessions.
Mental health and mood
The norepinephrine and endorphin release produced by cryotherapy has been studied specifically in the context of depression and anxiety — with studies showing significant improvements in mood scores with regular whole body cryotherapy. The post-session elevation in energy, clarity and mood that most clients experience is a direct result of these neurochemical effects.
Healthy ageing and longevity
Cold shock protein production, mitochondrial renewal, reduced oxidative stress and systemic anti-inflammatory effects all have relevance to healthy ageing at a cellular level. Regular cryotherapy is increasingly used by people interested in longevity and health optimisation as a physiological stimulus with broad cellular and metabolic benefits.
Multiple sclerosis and neurological conditions
Whole body cryotherapy has been studied specifically in multiple sclerosis, where it has shown benefits for fatigue, spasticity and quality of life. The neuroprotective effects of cold shock proteins and the anti-inflammatory mechanisms are particularly relevant for neurological conditions with an inflammatory component.
What to expect at Aim Health, Hoylake
Sessions last two to four minutes. Before you step in, our team will talk you through exactly what to expect and answer any questions. We take your temperature before and after each session.
You will be provided with protective gloves, socks, headband and face mask — or you are welcome to bring your own. You wear minimal clothing inside the chamber to maximise skin surface exposure — typically underwear or a swimsuit. No metal jewellery.
Inside the chamber the air is extremely cold and dry. Most clients find the experience more manageable than they expect — significantly more comfortable than an ice bath. The two to four minutes passes quickly. Most clients leave feeling an immediate lift in energy, mood and mental clarity.
There is no recovery time required. You can go straight back to normal activities after a session.
For most conditions a course of sessions is recommended rather than a single treatment — the effects of cryotherapy are cumulative, building meaningfully across a programme of regular sessions. We recommend 1 to 2 sessions per week for most clients. Your protocol is discussed at your free wellness assessment.
−87°C
The Mecotec chamber at Aim Health, Hoylake Two to four minutes at minus 87 degrees Celsius — electrically cooled, consistent temperature throughout, with three fan settings for enhanced skin cooling. Our team is present throughout every session.
The evidence
Whole body cryotherapy has an extensive and growing evidence base across multiple conditions.
Studies in rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory arthritis consistently show significant reductions in pain, stiffness and inflammatory markers with regular whole body cryotherapy. A 2020 meta-analysis in Frontiers in Physiology confirmed significant benefits for pain and quality of life across inflammatory conditions.
Research in multiple sclerosis has shown improvements in fatigue, spasticity and quality of life with regular cryotherapy sessions, with the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective mechanisms proposed as the primary drivers.
Studies in depression and anxiety have shown significant improvements in mood scores with regular whole body cryotherapy, with norepinephrine release — producing two to three fold increases — identified as the primary mechanism.
For sports recovery, systematic reviews consistently demonstrate significant reductions in muscle soreness, faster recovery of strength and power, and reduced inflammatory markers following cryotherapy compared to passive recovery.
For metabolic effects, studies show increased basal metabolic rate for several hours post-session, with evidence of mitochondrial efficiency improvements with regular use.
The World Cryotherapy Association and multiple national physiotherapy and sports medicine bodies recognise whole body cryotherapy as an evidence-based intervention for a range of conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Is whole body cryotherapy safe?
Yes — at minus 87 degrees Celsius in an electric chamber, whole body cryotherapy is extremely well-tolerated. The cold acts only on skin surface receptors — it does not penetrate deep into the body and does not cause tissue damage. Our team is present throughout every session, temperature is monitored, and all necessary protective equipment is provided. The absolute contraindications are pregnancy and having a pacemaker. We carry out a health assessment before your first session and recommend informing your GP if you have any existing medical condition.
How cold does it actually feel?
Clients consistently report that it feels significantly more manageable than expected — and far more comfortable than an ice bath. The air is dry, which makes the cold more tolerable than wet cold. Most clients describe it as intensely cold but not painful. The two to four minutes passes quickly, particularly after the first few sessions.
How quickly will I notice a difference?
Most clients notice an immediate effect after a single session — elevated mood, improved energy and mental clarity that persists for several hours. The cumulative anti-inflammatory and recovery benefits build across a programme of sessions, with meaningful changes in pain, sleep and energy typically noticed within the first two to three weeks of regular sessions.
How many sessions will I need?
This varies depending on your condition and goals. For sports recovery, sessions around training are typically most effective. For chronic conditions — chronic pain, inflammatory skin conditions, chronic fatigue — a programme of 1 to 2 sessions per week builds the most sustained benefit. We discuss this fully at your free wellness assessment.
Can I use it alongside my existing medical treatment?
Yes — whole body cryotherapy is compatible with most conventional medical treatments and medications. We always recommend continuing with any existing treatment from your GP or specialist and informing them that you are including cryotherapy as part of your programme.
Can two people go in together?
Yes — our Mecotec chamber is large enough for two people, making it a great option to share with a partner or friend.
What do I wear?
Minimal clothing to maximise skin surface exposure — typically underwear or a swimsuit. We provide protective gloves, socks, headband and face mask. No metal jewellery inside the chamber.
Further reading
References
1. Banfi G et al. Whole-body cryotherapy in athletes. Sports Medicine. 2010;40(6):509–517. Read study →
2. Bettoni L et al. Effects of 15 consecutive cryotherapy sessions on the clinical output of fibromyalgia patients. Clinical Rheumatology. 2013;32(9):1337–1345. Read study →
3. Rymaszewska J et al. Whole-body cryotherapy as adjunct treatment of depressive and anxiety disorders. Archivum Immunologiae et Therapiae Experimentalis. 2008;56(1):63–68. Read study →
4. Gizinska M et al. Effects of whole-body cryotherapy in comparison with other physical modalities used with kinesitherapy in rheumatoid arthritis. BioMed Research International. 2015. Read study →
5. Lombardi G et al. The physiological effects of whole-body cryotherapy. PLOS ONE. 2017;12(9):e0184540. Read study →
6. Metzger D et al. Effects of whole-body cryotherapy on quality of life in patients with MS. Multiple Sclerosis. 2000;6(3):201–204. Read study →
7. Westerlund T et al. Effects of cold air exposure on recovery from exercise. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 2009;4(4):516–530. Read study →
8. Mourot L et al. Greater post-exercise cardiovascular autonomic recovery with cold water immersion than with passive recovery. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 2008;104(3):523–532. Read study →
© Aim Health Hoylake 2026. This article is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. The absolute contraindications for whole body cryotherapy are pregnancy and having a pacemaker. Always continue with any existing medical treatment and consult your GP or specialist before making changes to your care plan.
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