Step into a cryotherapy chamber and you’ll encounter cold unlike anything in nature, temperatures plunging to –120 degrees C It’s colder than an Antarctic winter, yet perfectly controlled and surprisingly tolerable. The question is: how does it get that cold, and what happens to your body in those few intense minutes?
Cryotherapy isn’t just about exposure to freezing air; it’s a calculated manipulation of temperature designed to trigger powerful biological responses. Within seconds, the skin’s surface temperature drops dramatically, blood vessels constrict, and the body enters a state of rapid physiological adaptation.
In this article, we’ll uncover the science behind cryotherapy temperatures, how these extremes are achieved, why they’re safe, and what makes the human body capable of thriving in the coldest environments imaginable.
What Is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy, literally meaning “cold therapy,” is the controlled exposure of the body to extreme low temperatures, typically between –110°C and –130°C, for a brief period of around three to five minutes. But this isn’t just standing in the cold; it’s a precise physiological process designed to stimulate recovery, balance, and performance.
When you enter the chamber, the sudden drop in temperature sends powerful signals through the nervous system. Your blood vessels constrict, circulation shifts toward vital organs, and the body releases endorphins. At Soma House, our whole-body cryotherapy chamber delivers this experience in a precisely controlled environment. Every session is calibrated for safety, comfort, and results, ensuring your body receives the maximum benefits from each treatment in a way that’s as revitalising for the mind as it is restorative for the body.
How Cold Does a Cryotherapy Chamber Get?
Inside a cryotherapy chamber, extreme cold temperatures plunge to extraordinary levels, typically between –110°C and –130°C. It’s an environment so cold it seems almost otherworldly, yet every degree is carefully regulated to ensure precision and safety.
At Soma House, our chamber operates within the optimal range of –110°C to –130°C, cold enough to trigger the body’s full restorative response, yet comfortably within the limits of safe exposure. This balance between intensity and control is what makes the experience both powerful and sustainable.
Although the numbers sound extreme, the exposure is brief, just a few minutes. During that time, the skin’s surface and tissue temperature drop dramatically, but the body’s core temperature remains stable, protected by its natural thermoregulatory systems. The result is a deeply invigorating physiological response, without the risk of genuine freezing.
How Does the Chamber Get That Cold?
Creating temperatures below –100°C isn’t as simple as turning up the air conditioning, though, in essence, that’s exactly what the technology does. Cryotherapy chambers use two main cooling methods: electrically cooled systems and liquid nitrogen–assisted systems.
Electrically cooled chambers function much like a high-powered air conditioner on an industrial scale. They circulate refrigerated, purified air through the chamber, gradually lowering the ambient temperature to the desired range. The cold is clean, even, and completely free of direct gases, ideal for consistency and comfort.
Liquid nitrogen systems, on the other hand, use nitrogen gas only to cool the air, not to touch the skin. The nitrogen rapidly chills the chamber’s atmosphere, creating that same extremely cold, dry air environment. Despite how it sounds, there’s no direct exposure; you’re simply surrounded by air that’s been cooled to extreme temperatures.
At Soma House, our advanced electric cryogenic technology ensures this process remains safe, stable, and comfortable from start to finish. The environment feels more like a crisp, invigorating breeze than a freezing blast, intense, yes, but perfectly controlled.
What Happens to the Body at Cryotherapy Temperatures?
When your body is exposed to cryotherapy temperatures, it reacts in a matter of seconds, activating a series of natural physiological defences designed to protect and revitalise:
- Skin receptors detect the rapid temperature drop, sending immediate signals to the brain that trigger your body’s cold response.
- Blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction), reducing inflammation, slowing nerve conduction velocity, and drawing blood toward your vital organs to preserve warmth and protect core function.
- Once the session ends, blood vessels dilate (vasodilation), allowing freshly oxygenated blood to surge back to the skin and muscles. This helps flush out metabolic waste, deliver nutrients, and speed up tissue repair.
- Circulation and cellular recovery intensify, supporting the recovery process through pain relief, reduced muscle soreness, faster healing, and improved overall performance.
- The nervous system releases endorphins and norepinephrine, chemicals that elevate mood, enhance focus, and leave you feeling alert, energised, and refreshed.
Why Is Cryotherapy Treatment Safe?
Although cryotherapy operates at extreme temperatures, the process itself is meticulously controlled and designed with safety as the highest priority. Every session is brief, carefully timed, and supervised by a trained professional to ensure comfort and precision throughout.
Before entering the chamber, individuals wear minimal clothing, typically sports wear or shorts,along with thermal protection such as gloves, socks, headband and slippers to shield temperature-sensitive areas like the fingers, toes, and ears. These simple precautions prevent overexposure while keeping the experience comfortable.
It’s also important to note that only the skin’s surface is cooled; the body naturally redirects circulation to protect vital organs and maintain a stable core temperature. This is what makes cryotherapy both safe and effective, and why it’s trusted across professional sports, physiotherapy, and modern wellness practices worldwide.
What Are the Benefits of Cold Air Exposure?
At these sub-zero cryotherapy temperatures, the body activates a cascade of biological responses that go far beyond the initial chill. Together, these reactions promote restoration, balance, and resilience, both physically and mentally.
Some of the most recognised benefits include:
- Accelerated muscle recovery – Rapid cooling helps reduce micro-inflammation in muscle tissue and eases delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), shortening recovery time after training or intense physical activity.
- Reduced inflammatory response and pain relief – Constricted blood vessels limit swelling and nerve activity, easing joint discomfort, chronic pain, and muscle pain caused by training or physical exertion.
- Enhanced circulation – As the body warms back up, blood flow intensifies, improving oxygen delivery to muscles and supporting long-term cardiovascular health.
- Boosted collagen production – Cold exposure stimulates collagen synthesis, promoting firmer, healthier skin and improved elasticity over time.
- Elevated energy and mood – The release of endorphins and norepinephrine creates a natural, sustained lift in focus, alertness, and overall vitality.
- Improved sleep and immune function – Regular sessions can help regulate hormonal balance, support deeper sleep, and strengthen immune response.
Each session delivers a unique combination of these benefits, a complete physiological reset that leaves the body feeling lighter, clearer, and re-energised from the inside out.
While traditional cold water immersion, such as ice baths, has long been used for recovery, whole-body cryotherapy offers a more advanced and comfortable approach to achieving a greater, physiological and therapeutic benefits. By using controlled extreme cold temperatures instead of direct water contact, cryotherapy allows for faster cooling of skin temperature and tissue temperature without the discomfort of full-body submersion.
The result is a cleaner, safer, and more targeted recovery experience, one that harnesses the science of cold exposure in a precisely regulated environment.
What Is the Ideal Cryotherapy Temperature?
The optimal cryotherapy temperature typically sits between –110°C and –130°C, a range proven to deliver the most effective results while maintaining complete comfort and safety. Within this window, the body experiences the full physiological benefits of cold exposure without undue strain or discomfort.
Lower temperatures don’t necessarily enhance outcomes; instead, they can make the experience unnecessarily harsh. The key lies in precision, achieving a cold intense enough to trigger circulation, endorphin release, and recovery, yet balanced enough to remain refreshing and energising.
At Soma House, every session is individually controlled whether it's your first time, or are a regular user, temperature and duration are adjusted to your individual requirements, ensuring each experience feels both invigorating and expertly controlled.
Whole Body Cryotherapy at Soma House
Every cryotherapy session at Soma House is guided by precision, personalisation, and care. Our chamber uses cutting-edge cryogenic technology, designed for both performance and safety, allowing us to monitor and adjust temperatures in real time.
Before and after each session, we record your surface temperature to measure how your body responds, ensuring that every treatment delivers visible, results-driven progress. This data-led approach makes each session as individual as the person stepping inside.
Our team takes time to consult with every client, tailoring the session length and intensity to your goals, recovery needs, and experience level. The process is as much about understanding your body as it is about exposing it to the cold.
Set within our calm, purpose-built rural space the environment itself supports the experience, serene, minimal, and centred on holistic health rather than spa luxury. From the moment you arrive, our focus is on creating a complete recovery experience: one that aligns body, mind, and performance.
The Power of Controlled Cold
Understanding how cryotherapy temperature works reveals why the treatment is so uniquely effective. These carefully controlled sub-zero environments do more than just cool the skin; they activate deep physiological processes that enhance recovery, sharpen focus, and restore balance throughout the body.
At Soma House, we’ve refined this science into a precise, uplifting experience. Every cryotherapy session is guided by expert supervision and powered by advanced cryogenic technology, ensuring your safety, comfort, and results are at the centre of every moment. The result is more than a treatment, it’s a full-body reset that leaves you recharged from the inside out.
Ready to experience the power of the cold?
Step into our state-of-the-art cryotherapy chamber at Soma House in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and discover what controlled cold can do for your recovery, performance and wellbeing.
