FAIRLAWN, Ohio -- Even though the Cavaliers are going to the conference finals, staying healthy and injury free is critical to making it through the next series. LeBron James found a solution right down the street from his house.
Cryotherapy Plus opened in Fairlawn last August and LeBron James became a client almost immediately. It's a holistic way to alleviate inflammation in his muscles and tendons by exposing his body to the freezing temperatures of liquid nitrogen.
Kim Amity is a nurse and the owner. This is the second treatment for high school basketball player Dirk Androff, who is recovering from shoulder surgery and an MCL tear in his knee.
The entire treatment is three minutes long, but the healing begins as soon as he steps out.
"Your brain thinks you're freezing so all your blood rushes to your core creating vasoconstriction and the second that machines turns off even before I open the door your blood will immediately rush systemically throughout the body creating creating a massive vasodialation and that is what creates the anti-inflammatory proteins," Amity said.
The Cryosauna is not a medical device and it can reach temperatures as low as negative 292 degrees. Amity said, with consistent use, the effects may last days. That's why she sees LeBron in here frequently.
"He definitely goes for three minutes several times a day," Amity said.
"Once you start walking around you think about how it felt beforehand and afterward it's so much better," Androff said.
Dirk doesn't need pain medication anymore.
"I have goosebumps right now and I could almost cry as a mom that this is available for him and he never has to be on meds," Dirk's mom, Christine Androff said.
But it's not just for athletes.
"Fifty percent of my customers just have chronic or acute pain psoriasis is an inflammation in the body eczema," Amity said, "I have a customer it's helped with eczema and plantar fasciitis."
It's not for everyone, those with heart disease, high blood pressure, pregnant women and those with Raynaud's syndrome shouldn't consider it. But for the weekend warrior it's something to think about.
Cryotherapy Plus is located in Fairlawn, packages start at $265 a month for unlimited use.
For more information on Cryotherapy Plus, visit CryotherapyPlus.com
Follow WKYC's Senior Health Correspondent Monica Robins on Twitter: @MonicaRobins
