At one end of the spectrum is whole-body cryotherapy, where a person enters a chamber or enclosure and much of the body is exposed to very low temperatures for a short period. At the other is localised cryotherapy, where cooling is directed at a specific area using a handheld device.

The distinction matters because the two approaches are designed to do different things. Whole-body systems are generally associated with an overall recovery or wellness experience. Localised treatment, by contrast, gives the practitioner the ability to concentrate on a defined part of the body - for example, an area being managed within a physiotherapy or sports-recovery session.

That makes localised cryotherapy particularly interesting in professional treatment environments. It can be incorporated into an existing appointment, applied only where required and used alongside other techniques rather than requiring the client to undergo a separate whole-body experience.

There are practical differences too. Whole-body cryotherapy normally requires substantial dedicated equipment and space. Handheld systems can be considerably more compact and portable, which may make them easier to integrate into a clinic, treatment room, mobile practice or sporting environment.

TruCryo's Kaasen range has been developed around this targeted approach. The UK-made system uses liquid CO2 and interchangeable nozzles, allowing trained users to deliver different forms of localised cooling within defined protocols.

Neither approach needs to be presented as universally 'better'. The more useful question is what the practitioner is trying to achieve and how the technology will fit into the service being offered.

Cryotherapy is not one single treatment category. Understanding that difference is the first step towards deciding whether cold technology belongs in a particular practice at all - and, if it does, which form makes the most sense.

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