Frequently Asked Questions

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While there is no single optimal time for a plunge, it does largely depend on your specific goals and activities. If you work out, it's typically beneficial to schedule ice baths after training sessions or marathons. This helps to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation while accelerating recovery. On the other hand, a plunge first thing in the morning can be a great way to jumpstart your day as the cold water stimulates the body and mind, leaving you feeling energized.

Listen to your mind and body. Remember, your ice baths will be short and sweet. Unless your doctor has instructed otherwise, it’s typically a good idea to stay in your tub for 2 to 5 minutes, and up to 15 for advanced plungers. Additionally, increasing your tolerance for cold water slowly is important for keeping your body balanced.

For most, two to three ice baths each week can offer significant benefits in terms of relaxation and recovery. Some people choose to do more though. However, it's essential to strike a balance and avoid overdoing it, as excessive cold exposure can lead to diminished returns. And like we mentioned earlier, it's essential to avoid overdoing it and to listen to your body's response. 

When it comes to what to wear in an ice bath, there is no right or wrong answer. To get the maximum amount of cold exposure, many people opt for a minimalist approach and wear a simple bathing suit. Those who are just beginning might opt to wear more, such as rashguards. Regardless, try to choose quick-drying materials like nylon and spandex and avoid cotton, as it absorbs water.

Infrared waves, or infrared light, are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. People encounter Infrared waves every day; the human eye cannot see it, but humans can detect it as heat.

• Near infrared (NIR) light therapy is absorbed just below the surface of the skin, promoting wound healing, cell health/regeneration, skin revitalization and can mitigate inflammation
• Mid Infrared (MIR) helps expand blood vessels and increases circulation so more oxygen can reach injured areas of the body. This reduces inflammation, pain and speeds the healing process.
• Far Infrared (FIR) penetrates the deepest where toxins and chemicals can be trapped. It can assist with weight loss and increases your heart rate. This increase in BPM’s can be equivalent to a mild cardio workout.

As a beginner, you should opt for 5 to 10 minutes for up to twice a week to begin with. This will allow you to assess how your body and skin reacts to the infrared sauna to determine how best you should use this treatment in future. It is recommended to begin with a temperature of 35-45˚C (100-120˚F) where you can begin to increase the heat overtime. As your body becomes used to the sauna, you may begin to visit 3 to 4 times a week for sessions of up to 45 minutes although, the general rule is to cap your session at 20 minutes, which can vary person to person. Essentially, you should look to complete your session when your body feels hot enough and deeply relaxed.

Please consult with your doctor before entering an infrared sauna while pregnant

Contrast therapy, also known as hot/cold therapy, is a thermal intervention that uses alternating hot and cold temperatures to promote well-being and achieve physiological effects. It has roots in ancient healing practices and is commonly used by athletes, physiotherapists, and athletic trainers to treat pain, swelling, and inflammation, and to improve recovery after exercise.

Pneumatic compression is (most simply) compressive therapy generated by a device. Whereas compression socks, sleeves, or bandages deliver continuous compression where you wear them, pneumatic compression devices generate compression from a pump that precisely controls the amount of pressure and the intervals at which that pressure is delivered to the treatment area.

The recommended length of time to wear NormaTec boots for recovery will typically be between 20 to 60 minutes, with most patients opting for around 30-minute sessions. However, this timeline will heavily depend on everyone's specific needs and goals from the therapy.

When the body is exposed to extremely cold temperatures it causes vasoconstriction which physically pumps inflammation out of blood vessels, muscles and tissue. Cryotherapy (cold plunge) also stimulates an anti-inflammatory biochemical response which reduces inflammation at the cellular level throughout the body. Both of these actions mobilize inflammation from cells throughout the body. NormaTec compression will facilitate the evacuation of this inflammation through the lymphatic and circulatory systems

Red light therapy includes NIR wavelengths, which go beyond the surface of the skin, resulting in numerous health benefits beyond the surface of the skin. 

NIR light penetrates into the deep tissues in the body including joints, muscles, and organs.

The potential benefits include the following:  

• Treating hair loss
• Bolstering the immune system  
• Reducing inflammation
• Faster wound healing
• Faster recovery from exercise 
• Treating neuropathy or nerve damage
• Relieving osteoarthritis joint pain and/or lower back pain
• And numerous other benefits that result from stimulating and energizing the mitochondria.

Red light therapy works at the cellular level. You may feel some fast relief from pain, but in general users may require some time for their body to heal.  Skin cells turn over once a month but not all at the same time. If you’re using red light therapy to clear up acne, the light will immediately kill acne-causing bacteria and quickly reduce inflammation, but the body will need time to rebuild healthy skin. Most users will see improvement in their skin within 4-8 weeks. Since red light therapy is safe for long-term use, users can continue to build on these benefits to “turn back the clock” on aging skin and to control inflammatory skin conditions.

There is no reason for users to be staring directly at the light diodes during red light therapy treatment. There is no danger to looking at them for a short duration, but looking directly at the light diodes just isn’t a part of the treatment. Users are encouraged to meditate, read or to simply relax during their treatment session. The point of treatment is to get exposure to the skin, not directly to the eyes. 

We recommend doing Red Light after your cold plunge. The hot and cold temperatures cause blood vessels to dilate and constrict, which can improve circulation and reduce inflammation. This can also help reduce stress and anxiety, and stimulate the immune system.

Saunas generate heat to induce stress stimuli while red light devices emit energy to support energy production and recovery. As their action mechanisms differ significantly, it's best to use them independently. Trying to create stress and energize/recover at the same time wouldn't be ideal. If you wish to combine them, it would be best to use a sauna first, and follow up with a light therapy session after to help your body recover from the stress.