Discuss how cryotherapy might be used in a massage setting. What are some contraindications for its use?

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: While cryotherapy is mainly used in a medical setting after a trauma or injury, it may also be used in massage practice, particularly in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and chiropractic offices. It may also be used in general massage practice if a client has a muscle spasm, for example. Because it causes vasoconstriction, cold should not be applied to clients who have circulatory problems like Raynaud's disease or diabetes. Other contraindications include allergic reaction to cold, cold sensitivity, low core body temperature, multiple sclerosis, and asthma. For those who take medications that reduce skin sensation, alter the reaction of blood vessels to heat and cold, or reduce their body temperature control mechanisms, cryotherapy is also contraindicated. Always discuss cryotherapy ahead of time with a client and, barring none of the contraindications discussed, obtain his or her informed consent. Do not apply cold applications for more than 15 minutes in a massage setting. Review the various sensations a client should expect to feel ahead of time.