7 On Your Side Q &A: An in-depth look at cryotherapy
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- ABC7 News anchor Dan Ashley sits down for a Q&A With Michael Finney for a more in-depth look at cyrotherapy.
Ashley: Are there any guidelines or regulations about cryotherapy?
Finney:Cryotherapy is largely a non-regulated industry at this point. We only know of one state, Nevada, that has developed guidelines for the industry.
Those guidelines read like a warning you might read before going into a sauna. A client should not use the cryogenic machine if you've have any medical conditions including a stroke, heart attack, seizures, high blood pressure, or pregnancy.
Ashley: Are there any age restrictions?
Finney Nevada recommends against use by anyone under the age of 18. Also, they say you should at least be five feet tall. Although not used by US Cryotherapy, other facilities use a narrow chamber similar to the one you saw in my story used by Lebron James. The five-feet height minimum is to ensure the user's head is above the fog and gas the machine produces.
Ashley: How long should a cryotherapy session be?
Finney:Nevada guidelines recommends the session should be no longer than three minutes per session and one session per day. The machine should always be operated by a well trained employee.
The client must wear socks or slippers, gloves, and briefs for men each session, ideally made of cotton and wool.
There are also training and posted signage requirements.
Ashley: How did these guidelines come about?
Finney: In October of last year, an employee of a cryotherapy center used the facility after hours. Chelsea Ake-Salvacion, 24, was found dead the next day. She died of asphyxia caused by low oxygen. She was using a machine similar to the one you saw Lebron James use in our story. The guidelines were released the following month.
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