2,097 words, 11 minutes read time
Updated on September 30, 2024. Fact checked by Robert Underwood, Head of Research
What do Usain Bolt, LeBron James, and Ronaldo all have in common? They all use cold therapy.
For over 2000 years, cold therapy has remained one of the simplest ways to treat inflammation, swelling, and pain. Other terms for this icy treatment include cold thermogenesis or cold therapy, and most treatments involve ice packs, ice baths or chambers, whirlpools, ice massages and coolant sprays.
Looking at cold statistics and trends for 2023 and 2024 reveals just how popular this type of therapy is and how it’s still growing:
- In 2022, the world’s cold therapy market was valued at just over $8.01 billion
- The cold therapy market is expected to reach $12.34 billion by 2030
- The US holds the largest share of the cold therapy market
- The US market will be worth over $5 billion by 2033
- Hippocrates first used cold to treat pain and swelling in 400 BC
- The Japanese were the pioneers of cold therapy
- There are 4 main trends prevalent in cold therapy in 2023-2024
- Demand for ice baths and cold showers is on the rise in health and fitness businesses
Whether you suffer from runner’s knee, have twisted or sprained an ankle, tendinitis, arthritis or have just undergone hip or knee replacement surgery, cold or ice therapy may be the answer.
We’ve delved deeper into the cold statistics and trends for 2023 and 2024 to give you the full picture of this treatment option.
Cold therapy Explained
While the Japanese are credited with pioneering cold therapy, taking an invigorating dip in an icy lake or rolling in the snow has been practised in eastern and northern Europe for centuries. Cold water swimmers swear by the increase in circulation and the “feeling alive” sensation they experience after an icy swim, and in Poland, the treatment is used for depression, sleep disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and skin conditions such as psoriasis.
Nowadays, whole-body cold therapy exposes the body to subzero temperatures (typically –200° to –300° F) for very short sessions of 2-4 minutes. People may sit in a cold room or chamber which only cools the body from the neck down.
While icy showers and ice baths are common, ice therapy devices usually use liquid nitrogen so you don’t get wet during the treatment. The therapy has become very popular with elite athletes to assist in recovering from their gruelling training schedules.
The theory behind cold therapy is that cold temperatures reduce inflammation and swelling just like placing an ice pack on a swollen ankle or knee. Adherents of cold therapy claim it can alleviate symptoms associated with chronic pain, asthma, depression and arthritis. Other claims include helping to achieve weight loss, boosting metabolism and circulation, better sleep patterns and soothing sore muscles.
However, according to Harvard University and the US FDA, there is no scientific evidence that whole-body cold therapy is safe, nor is there any proof of claims about its health benefits.
Yet some sites describe it as a modality or a medical treatment, while others state cold therapy mimics exercise and its associated benefits. Is it the secret behind all those mad cold water swimmers leaping into icy lakes and oceans? Should we be taking it seriously?
Let’s take a look at what extreme cold does to the body.
What Happens To The Body In The Cold?
When skin is exposed to extreme cold (30.2°F/-1°C), our cold sensors activate. In an effort to prevent hypothermia, the brain sends signals to blood vessels to constrict around the core vital organs. The hypothalamus in the brain will do everything it can to keep the core warm at all costs to ensure the safety of the vital organs – sacrificing the extremities if need be.
The blood is also said to change when exposed to extreme cold. The heart pumps enriched white blood cell-infused blood to make sure the body responds to the danger. This blood is highly oxygenated and referred to as “nutritionally dense”.
Powerful neurotransmitters are released into the blood too. Known as norepinephrine, this neurotransmitter aids focus, cognition, attention span, energy, and mood. Additionally, it boosts metabolism and helps alleviate pain and inflammation. Cold therapy also releases cold shock proteins, which play a role in fat metabolism. These proteins have lipids which make your body more efficient at burning fat.
Western medicine has also used cold treatments in different capacities over the years. Warts are frozen, as are moles and skin lesions, and it’s used to kill off cancer cells. Ice is also used to slow metabolic processes during trauma surgery.
2024 Trends In Cold Therapy
The Global Wellness Institute’s cold therapy Initiative has identified four main trends in cold therapy for the future.
1: Changes in the power that drives cold therapy
Electrical systems are replacing gas or liquid nitrogen-driven systems.
Electricity-driven cold systems will replace nitrogen-driven cold systems in certain applications in the future. In central Europe, the majority of new centres are using electrical systems. In the US, it is around 50/50. But gas-driven solutions are losing market share while electric ones are gaining significantly.
At the third international 2023 CryoCon in Dallas, electrical systems were represented or showcased three times more than nitrogen-driven systems.
2: Cold centres see rapid growth in the US, Europe and the Middle East
Market research has estimated that the cold therapy market will increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7.8% from 2021 to 2026.
Currently, the US holds the largest market share for cold therapy, followed by Europe and then the Middle East. This is due to the increasing popularity of cold therapy as a recovery technique and wellness treatment. The post-Covid consumer is seeking alternative methods to boost their overall general health and immunity.
3: Many gyms, health centres and spas are offering cold therapy
As wellness is an integral lifestyle choice currently, a growing number of gyms, health and fitness centres, and spas are offering cold therapy. In Europe and the US, ski resorts are offering it too.
With proponents like Wim Hof becoming better known and holding seminars and exhibitions around the world, the demand for ice baths and cold showers is on the rise.
On the business end, offering cold therapy offers a good return on investment, as it’s hygienic and uses minimal staff requiring salaries.
4: Contrast Therapy – Hot & Cold
Cold therapy and heat-focused wellness treatments like infrared saunas are offered as part of a contrast therapy program.
The theory behind contrast therapy is that alternating between hot and cold temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict and then dilate, which can improve blood flow and oxygenation of tissues. This, in turn, can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Cold therapy Market Worth
The world’s cold therapy market was valued at just over $8.01 billion in 2022. The cold therapy market is expected to reach $12.34 billion by 2030. The US holds the largest share of the cold therapy market and is expected to reach over $5 billion by 2033.
Factors driving the market growth are the increasing use of non-invasive wellness therapies to treat conditions such as cancer, skin conditions, and cardiovascular disease that have not yet become acute or life-threatening. There are no cures for these chronic conditions, so the demand is only likely to increase in the future.
Additionally, as sport has been professionalised and huge sums of money are at stake, the incidence of sports injuries has increased. Club managers, sponsors, and owners are very keen to get their star striker back on the field in top condition with minimal delay. This is why sports professionals have embraced cold therapy wholeheartedly.
There is also a growing awareness of the benefits of cold therapy in dermatology and in the anti-ageing and beauty industry. Cold therapy is said to boost circulation, metabolism and to enhance skin regeneration.
Turning to sports injuries and how cold therapy benefits athletes, this segment of the cold therapy market is one of the largest.
How Does Cold Therapy Work In Sport?
When we injure an area of our body, the area becomes inflamed as the body works to repair the damage. Inflammation results from damaged blood vessels which expand as more blood is sent to the injury site. Ice helps to constrict blood vessels, which results in a decrease in swelling and pain. Ice therapy is, therefore, very effective if applied soon after the injury occurs and frequently thereafter.
Ice therapy can also be used for immediate relief of an old or chronic injury that has flared up. But it is not ideal for use on a chronic injury long-term, as it could lead to stiffness.
Cold therapy forms the “I” element of R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation). This is a treatment recommended for the home care of many injuries, particularly ones caused by sports.
The others are:
- Rest. Take a break from sports or physical activities that increase your pain.
- Compression. Applying pressure to the area can help control swelling and pain.
- Elevation. Elevate whatever body part is in pain.
As cold therapy reduces nerve activity, sports injury experts believe that cold therapy can reduce swelling, which is tied to pain, effectively lessening sensitivity to pain.
A Beneficial Treatment
Ice therapy has its proponents and detractors and is often hotly debated. But proponents argue that cold therapy does have its place.
The medical profession usually treats inflammation with anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs and corticosteroids. However, many sports experts and physiotherapists believe taking these drugs can actually hinder your healing as they reduce inflammation.
Acute and temporary inflammation actually promotes healing as it’s the body’s response to damaged tissue. The body sends extra blood and white blood cells to the injured area to fight off potential pathogens and begin the healing process.
Inflammation also helps to dispose of damaged cells so new ones can be generated. Where applying ice packs comes to the fore is in helping in reducing secondary injuries that may develop in adjacent areas to the injured site.
Common Uses of Cold Therapy in 2024
1. Reducing Inflammation
Inflammation is a natural response by the body as it moves white blood cells to the injury site or where the body detects dangers such as bacteria or pathogens.
As the cold of cold therapy acts to shift excess fluids away from the injured site, this allows fresh blood to flow back into that part of the body and reduces swelling and inflammation.
2. Encouraging Rapid Recovery
After strenuous exercise or a game, your body’s muscles need time to recover. Research suggests that overall recovery time is reduced with cold compression therapy, which allows athletes to recover quicker and get back to training.
Cold therapy can also alleviate or ease muscle pain and lessen the probability of crippling damage to muscles.
3. Promoting Flexibility
Flexibility is as important as fitness, strength and stamina in sports. Overworked muscles can hinder flexibility and nimbleness. Studies have demonstrated that cold therapy helps relax overworked muscles and improve flexibility.
Therapists can focus on the overworked muscles with cold compression therapy, and they loosen up rapidly.
4. Repairing Muscle and Tissue
When an athlete pushes their musculoskeletal system to the limit, muscles, tendons and soft tissue need some time to repair themselves. cold therapy accelerates the repair process by stimulating blood and lymphatic fluid movement, bringing the requisite oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and tissues.
5. Reducing Recovery Time and Injury Prevention
By using the benefits of cold therapy, athletes can help the body heal more rapidly, strengthen muscles to prevent new injuries and protect old injuries from flaring up.
A 2022 study demonstrated that participants showed improvement in the following body fat percentages (which decreased) and a significant increase in isometric leg muscle torque.
The Future Looks Cold
Judging by the growing market, the cold therapy market has a very bright future. Its benefits are more widely accepted in both clinical and sports medicine.
The use of cold to ease swelling and pain has come a long way since the father of Western medicine, Hippocrates, used cold to treat pain and swelling in 400 BC.
These days cold therapy is also used to target fat cells, freezing them in an effort to induce the body to get rid of them. As wellness and health demand increases and technology becomes more advanced, the future of cold therapy and its use in easing a myriad of chronic and painful conditions appears to be assured.
