cryotherapy

American

[krahy-oh-ther-uh-pee] / ˌkraɪ oʊˈθɛr ə pi /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

treatment by means of applications of cold.

cryotherapy British

/ ˌkraɪməʊˈθɛrəpɪ, ˌkraɪəʊˈθɛrəpɪ /

noun

medical treatment in which all or part of the body is subjected to cold temperatures, as by means of ice packs

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of cryotherapy

First recorded in 1925–30; cryo- + therapy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People are also trying cryotherapy, which involves blasting the body with subzero temperatures to reduce inflammation and speed muscle recovery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

This will offer therapies including as cryotherapy, or extreme cold treatment, which is marketed as boosting energy levels and enhancing skin tone.

From BBC • Jan. 11, 2026

The cryotherapy chamber was set at minus-120 degrees Fahrenheit.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2024

It’s not an official treatment like cryotherapy, but it offers a more intense cold than you can get at home.

From National Geographic • Feb. 21, 2024

Pain and swelling can be minimized by cryotherapy, but I would recommend its use only in cases of mild poisoning such as the one described herein.

From Natural History of Cottonmouth Moccasin, Agkistrodon piscovorus (Reptilia) by Burkett, Ray D.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023