Cryotherapy vs. Contrast Therapy: What Actually Works for Recovery in Greer, SC?

What is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy exposes your body to extreme cold—usually between -160°F and -220°F—for just a few minutes. It’s done in a chamber that blasts chilled air or nitrogen vapor around your skin.

What It Feels Like

Picture this: you're running barefoot through a snowstorm. It's shocking. Your breath catches. You’re completely alert. But it’s over in two or three minutes—and when you step out, you feel like your nervous system just got hit with jumper cables.

Who It’s Great For

• People with inflammation flare-ups

• Athletes needing a quick boost

• Those who want a short, intense, energizing recovery session

What It Doesn’t Do Well

• It doesn’t go deep into your joints or connective tissue

• It’s not for people who dislike intense cold

• It doesn’t offer that grounded, meditative experience many people need to truly reset

📖 Explore the science of cryotherapy

What is Contrast Therapy?

Contrast therapy is the process of alternating between heat and cold—typically using a sauna followed by a cold plunge. The idea is to create waves of vasodilation and vasoconstriction to increase circulation, reduce inflammation, and calm the nervous system.

What It Feels Like

You enter an infrared sauna, and it feels like your muscles are exhaling. Your body softens. You sweat out tension and stress. Then you step into cold water, and everything contracts. It’s a jolt—but a focused one. Your breath sharpens. Your senses come alive.
Do that cycle a few times, and you walk out feeling like you just hit the reset button on your whole body.

Who It’s Great For

• People with joint pain, arthritis, or chronic stiffness

• Athletes or gym-goers needing recovery that lasts

• Anyone with high stress or poor sleep

• People who want to feel better in their body—period

📖 See why contrast therapy works
📍 Experience it at Polarity Plunge in Greer

Local Voices from the Upstate

“Cryo gave me a crazy adrenaline rush, but it wore off pretty fast. With contrast therapy, I actually slept through the night—pain-free—for the first time in weeks.”
— Amanda, 41, Nurse & Mom, Greer

“Polarity’s setup is like a sanctuary. The sauna relaxes me, the plunge shocks me back to life. It’s my weekly non-negotiable now.”
— Nate, 28, Distance Runner, Taylors

“Cryo is cool for inflammation and that quick high, but contrast therapy is where the real results come in. It’s functional recovery, not just flashy.”
— Eric, 33, CrossFit Coach, Simpsonville

Which One is Right for You?

Choose Cryotherapy If:

• You need quick inflammation relief

• You want a fast, high-intensity recovery session

• You like cutting-edge tech and don’t mind being cold

Choose Contrast Therapy If:

• You need deeper recovery for joints, fascia, or chronic pain

• You want better sleep, lower stress, and more circulation

• You’re looking for a recovery ritual, not just a reaction

Where to Go for Cryo or Contrast in the Greer Area

Polarity Plunge — Greer, SC

Infrared sauna + cold plunge therapy
Ideal for recovery, relaxation, circulation, and stress relief
🔗 Book Now

Drift Float & Spa — Greenville, SC

Offers both contrast therapy and cryotherapy
Perfect for those who want to try both modalities
🔗 Explore Options

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a quick, high-tech hit of cold therapy to shake off soreness or inflammation—cryotherapy might be for you.

But if you want something deeper—something that resets your entire system from the inside out—contrast therapy is your best bet. It's not just a treatment, it's a practice. One that can change how your body feels and functions day after day.

📍 Ready to feel it for yourself?
Book your contrast therapy session at Polarity Plunge and find out what your body’s been missing.