When Whole Body Cryotherapy was first developed in Japan in 1978, it was specifically conceptualized for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory, autoimmune disease. While incredibly successful for that specific issue, it quickly became apparent that inflammation throughout the body responded to the cryotherapy. By definition, inflammation is “part of the complex biological response of tissues to harmful stimuli, such as damaged cells. The signs of inflammation are pain, heat, redness and swelling and are truly a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli and to initiate the healing process.”