Hydromassage and Cryotherapy For Muscle Recovery
However you choose to wind down your muscles after a workout, one thing’s certain: intentional recovery gives you better athletic performance compared to putting your feet up.
Want to know the difference between hydrotherapy, cryotherapy and which one you should choose? Here’s our guide to muscle recovery.
How important is recovery for your wellness and goals?
With recovery built into your training plan, you don’t just meet your wellness goals. You unlock even more potential. Because, with proper recovery, your muscles:
Will repair and grow back stronger
Won’t be overtrained or risk injury
Are less sore
Are better prepared for strength, endurance and power next time round
But you’ll also feel less tired and mentally fatigued so you have the get-up-and-go for your next workout.
Recovery doesn’t just look like putting on the brakes. Getting intentional about how you recover will make a world of difference. Massage, hydrotherapy and cryotherapy are great options.
What is hydro recovery?
Hydro recovery, or hydrotherapy, is any form of muscle therapy that involves water. As well as heated pools with jet massagers, hydro recovery also includes non-invasive and targeted hydromassage. In a hydrotherapy massage, you’ll lie fully clothed on an electric bed while warm water is pushed underneath you in waves. While it doesn’t look like your traditional massage, this kind of movement simulates hand gestures and targets tight spots to relieve muscle tension with consistent pressure.
Our Hydromassage beds are currently available at Virgin Active Mayfair and Chiswick Riverside, giving members the chance to indulge in a 10 - 15 minute customisable massage which targets their upper body, lower body or full body from neck to calves.
The result?
Boosted circulation
Less muscle soreness, stiffness and tension
Temporary pain relief
Reduced anxiety and stress
More relaxation
Hydromassage has been shown to reduce muscle fatigue by 13% after just one session, in comparison to seated rest.*
What is cryo recovery?
Unlike a hydrotherapy massage, cryo recovery (or cryotherapy) uses cooler temperatures to improve your muscle recovery. You may already know a little bit about cryotherapy if you’ve ever tried an ice bath or contrast therapy.
The word ‘cryo’ comes from the Greek word for ‘cold’ and cryotherapy machines, like ours at Virgin Active Chiswick Riverside, give you a convenient, immersion-free way to relax your muscles, ease joint stiffness and improve your recovery times. So much so that cryotherapy has been shown to reduce muscle soreness by 32% after 24 hours.**
Just like hydromassage, cryotherapy with the Cryolounge+ is highly-targeted, allowing you to choose the temperature of your massage and also add leg compression. It can also target the shoulders and knees, plus there is contrast mode to alternate between hot and cold. It makes cryo a lot more accessible, especially for those who aren’t quite ready for ice baths or full body immersion.
What other recovery kit is there?
If lying on a massage bed isn’t for you or you’re looking for more specifically designed tools, then we’ve got your back - and your legs and arms. Our Recovery Zones are designed to soothe tight muscles and support your recovery. You’ll find Hyperice in all our clubs with Recovery Zones, including kit like:
Hypervolts - powerful percussion massage devices to warm up for your workout properly and recover extra quickly
Vyper 2.0 - a powerful vibrating muscle roller
Hypersphere - a versatile massage ball to pinpoint certain tension areas and release the pressure from muscle knots smoothly
We also have Normatec dynamic air compression boots to speed up your recovery, increase blood circulation and help you to feel fully refreshed.
At Mayfair, you’ll also find a selection of Therabody massage tools, such as:
TheraFace Mask Glo - a 12 minute red-light facial for radiant skin
Theragun Prime Plus - for pre and post-workout performance, now with a heated attachment
JetBoots Pro Plus - LED heated wireless compression boots to decompress from the ground up
Ready to give cryotherapy and hydromassage a go? Head to our club pages to find out what facilities your club has.
FAQs
What are the benefits of massage for muscle recovery?
Massage is great for muscle recovery because it boosts blood circulation, helping to reduce DOMS and provide fresh blood for your muscles to recover.
How does a massage gun support recovery and relieve muscle tension?
Massage guns give you targeted support for relieving muscle tension by boosting your circulation which brings oxygen-rich blood to the area, helping repair and recovery. It undoes tight knots which can also lead to better flexibility in your muscles.
What’s the difference between a sports massage and a regular massage?
Sports massages target your muscles deeper with additional pressure and are designed to help athletic performance as well as promote healing and relaxation.
What is cryotherapy (cryo) and how does it help with recovery?
Cryotherapy comes from the Greek word for ‘cold’ and, as the name suggests, is about using cooler temperatures to improve your muscle recovery. It works by making your blood vessels smaller to constrict blood and soothe inflammation, reducing the sensation of pain by numbing nerve endings and boosting circulation when you warm up again.
What is hydrotherapy and how does hydromassage work?
Hydrotherapy can include hydropools with targeted underwater jets and hydromassage. It works by using water as a massaging force, encouraging your body to increase blood circulation for muscle recovery.
Are massage beds effective for full-body recovery and relaxation?
Yes! Massage beds not only help to improve your muscle recovery but can also be great for reducing anxiety, stress and helping you feel more relaxed.
References
