Spotlight Interview With GoCryo Co-Founder Ryan Goldbarg
For serious, elite athletes and fitness enthusiasts, GoCryo is a super fast, 3-minute optimal recovery method, which can enable increased physical performance. Don’t like ice baths? Let technology help you escape a 20-minute soak and try a frosty 180-second experience.
Soccer News: Up until now, the benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) have been targeted towards elite athletes or considered to be pricey and inconvenient.
Founded by Christopher Go (COO) and Ryan Goldbarg (CEO), GoCryo’s mission is to bring health, wellness and recovery benefits to everyone in a convenient way that fits in with the challenges and time constraints of active daily life.
One of the San Diego company’s goals is to help high-level soccer players take advantage of modern options that can expedite recovery — so a player can return to the field faster and recovered.
Is it really cold? Yes and no. The body thinks it is cold — and it does feel cold, but the 3 minutes fly by and then your body is welcomed by the warm air and the endorphins just seem to soar.
How It Works
By exposing the body to the extreme, yet highly tolerable, cold for a short 3-minute session, thermoreceptors in your skin are stimulated and then communicate the large temperature drop to your brain. In this controlled setting, the brain then “tricks” the body into thinking it is freezing, which elicits a multitude of beneficial healing effects including:
- Endorphin Release
- Circulation of Blood
- Pain Relief
- Decreased Muscle/Joint Soreness
- Elevated Cognitive Function
- Improved Mood
SoccerToday spoke with Goldbarg on the benefits of GoCryo for athletes and the growth of the company.
Diane Scavuzzo: What is your background?
Ryan Goldbarg: I have a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and a Bachelors in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Fitness, Nutrition, and Health.
Diane Scavuzzo: When did you start GoCryo?
Ryan Goldbarg: GoCryo began operation in October of last year. Our goal is to make cryotherapy accessible to people of all ages, fitness levels and lifestyles — and help maximize athletic longevity.
We also hope to bring awareness to young soccer players on the importance of recovery to decrease injury risk & optimize performance.
Diane Scavuzzo: What tournaments you have participated in?
Ryan Goldbarg: We have experience providing our cryo services at elite, large-scale tournaments including the Surf College Cup Showcase, Manchester City Cup, Albion Cup, and we will be attending the upcoming 2017 San Diego Surf Cup.
Diane Scavuzzo: How can you help an elite athlete perform better?
Ryan Goldbarg: Cryo treatments are 3 minutes in duration in which the entire body is exposed to a very cold gas.
The rapid drop in temperature stimulates a huge increase in blood circulation throughout the body.
This helps athletes clear lactic acid out of their muscles thereby eliminating and preventing soreness.
The powerful anti-inflammatory effects of cryotherapy decrease swelling, heal trauma to muscles/ligaments/tendons and keep the body feeling fresh.
In simple terms, cryotherapy greatly accelerates the body’s natural healing process.
This is especially important for maintaining optimum performance and decreasing injury risk during tournaments as athletes are pushing their bodies to perform multiple times a day and throughout the weekend.
Diane Scavuzzo: How is this comparable to a 20-minute ice bath?
Ryan Goldbarg: Unlike ice baths, cryotherapy treatments can be very effective before, or after games.
No need to keep filling those hotel bathtubs full of ice!
The treatments are completely dry and the cold does not penetrate deep into muscles. There is only a 20-30 minute warm up time required before the body is rejuvenated and ready to play.
For athletes, cryotherapy greatly alleviates symptoms and can be very useful for preparation before a game. For post-game recovery, I believe there is nothing better than a cryo treatment.
There is a reason “cryo chambers” have made their way into most NBA and NFL locker rooms. MLS, MLB and many college level athletic programs are beginning to catch on as well.
Diane Scavuzzo: Should players or teams make a reservation? Does it matter how quickly after a game cryo is used?
Ryan Goldbarg: No reservation necessary. Our mobile cryo unit is equipped with multiple changing rooms and treatments are only three minutes in duration. We are able to be very efficient with the turnover of treatments, and we serve athletes on a first come, first serve basis. There is a waiver required that can be submitted online to save time.
Cryo does not have to be used immediately after a game, but the “cool down” effect does feel amazing post-game!
Diane Scavuzzo: Is there anyone who shouldn’t do this for medical reasons?
Ryan Goldbarg: Cryotherapy is safer than a full body ice bath submersion (and much more tolerable); however, there are a few contraindications. Please see the here.
Diane Scavuzzo: What are your rates? Any promotions for tournaments?
Ryan Goldbarg: Our normal single session rate for a cryo treatment is $50. A large part of our mission for GoCryo is to educate young athletes about the importance of recovery and taking care of their bodies. Because of this, we like to make treatments more accessible in a tournament setting and offer a full 40% off to everyone attending –parents and coaches included!
Diane Scavuzzo: Why mobile?
Ryan Goldbarg: GoCryo is the only fully mobility cryo business in San Diego. We chose this route in order to make our cryotherapy services much more accessible for people.
