Athletes have been using recovery interventions and modalities for years so they can heal after an injury and compete again. You might have heard of hydrotherapy (using water for pain relief and treatment), compression therapy (pneumatic compression that increases blood flow to the lower legs, ankles and feet), and massage.

What’s new is cryotherapy (exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for up to three minutes). High-profile athletes from Tom Brady to LeBron James have found it to be useful to treat muscle injury and accelerate recovery. The benefits—reduced pain and inflammation—are similar to those offered by a cold plunge. The trend, which requires whole-body immersion in water 59 degrees Fahrenheit or less, has more than 500 million views on Tik Tok.

Santa Barbara Spa Guide: The Best Santa Barbara Spas

Now you can experience groundbreaking wellness services like cryotherapy for yourself at Restore Hyper Wellness, which just opened in Santa Barbara. Brandon Cox, known for his founding role with CorePower Yoga studios and Orangetheory Fitness, is the owner of the Santa Barbara franchise. Membership packages range in price from $119 to $329 per month and include access to the world’s most cutting-edge modalities in wellness. Become a founding member and save up to $500 your first year.

Members can create a customized plan that suits their needs from a variety of services:

• IV drip therapy (infuses a liter of fluids with an extensive menu of essential vitamins. nutrients, minerals and amino acids)

• Red light therapy (low levels of red or near-infrared light help power your cells), compression (improve the flow of blood and lymphatic fluid)

• Mild hyperbaric oxygen therapy (helps you regain your cognitive edge while enhancing the body’s natural healing process)

• Infrared sauna (releases minor pain, accelerates athletic recovery, boosts circulation and improves cardiovascular health)

• Intramuscular shots (time-saving injections that deliver similar benefits to IV drips in a fraction of the time)

Meanwhile, Biomarker Assessments evaluate your blood for insufficiencies and/or genetic markers that would indicate fault in your body’s ability to utilize nourishment. All of the modalities are designed to decrease inflammation, optimize sleep, boost energy, and defy the aging process.

You can also book a range of skincare treatments from oxygen facials to a non-invasive cosmetic service called Cryoskin that utilizes a temperature-controlled massage wand to promote a slimmer, more toned appearance.

Restore Hyper Wellness

Five Points Shopping Center, 3993 State Street, Santa Barbara

805-618-1025

restore.com

Open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Want to regain mobility and strength in record time? Try assisted stretching with a professional at StretchLab in Montecito. You’ll feel the benefits of one-on-one assisted stretching immediately. I had been struggling with debilitating muscle spasms and back pain for a month when I saw Emily, who holds a degree in Kinesiology, which focuses on the scientific study of human movement and how physical activity and sport affect our quality of life. After my 50-minute stretch, I was able to stand up straight for the first time in weeks.  A few days later, my pain was gone. I will definitely return for a “tune-up” every month.

Assisted stretching, which CNN calls the “latest way to loosen up,” uses a technique called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) that combines passive stretching and isometric stretching to improve muscle elasticity. Therapists may use PNF to help people regain range of motion after an accident or injury, while athletes have used it to improve their overall flexibility.

Some of the benefits include an increased range of motion, a properly balanced body and decreased pain and stiffness. Getting a stretch deeper than anything you can do on your own at least twice a month not only reduces stress but also improves posture.

Each of the flexologists at StretchLab— from massage therapists to personal trainers, yoga instructors to chiropractors—is certified in bodywork. Sessions range from 25 to 50 minutes, and you can choose from a variety of monthly memberships, including a Family Plan option.

StretchLab

1046 Coastal Village Road, Montecito

805-699-6020

stretchlab.com

Open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. most weekdays and weekends from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

 If you’re suffering from joint or back pain, bone density issues, or an injury that has limited your active lifestyle, stop into OsteoStrong in Santa Barbara. The membership-based Integrative Health and Wellness Center focuses on musculoskeletal strengthening that provides benefits for people diagnosed with osteoporosis, athletes who want to build muscle strength, and diabetics who need to reduce their HbA1c (long-term blood glucose measures).

The four-device circuit takes only minutes once per week to complete. Under the direction of a skilled technician, users engage in a safe controlled movement on each device that results in a stimulus to the central nervous system, triggering osteogenesis or new bone growth.

Each device provides biofeedback with a member’s impact emulation force exertion measured in pounds and multiples of body weight. Data is recorded and a report is sent to the member detailing their progress at the conclusion of each session. Think of it as the “ultimate biohack” for athletic training.

Studies have confirmed that the greatest effect on bone strength and health is the result of high-impact activity, identifying the minimum dose of force required through bone as being over four times bodyweight in the hip joint. As adults, impact may become associated with injury, which is why many adults avoid impact at all costs. But by utilizing a series of robotic musculoskeletal treatment devices utilizing high-impact emulation, OsteoStrong safely increases bone density and improves balance and posture.

Bone density or bone mineral density is the amount of bone mineral in bone tissue. Bones containing more minerals are denser so they tend to be stronger and less likely to break, which is significant for seniors since bones can become less dense as we age or develop certain medical conditions like osteoporosis, which causes bones to become weak and brittle.

A bone mineral density test (BMD) measures calcium and other minerals in bones. OsteoStrong members have reported up to 14% increases in BMD (bone mineral density) over 12 months between DEXA scans. They’ve also experienced increased agility, decreased joint pain, significant improvements in strength and balance and better posture. What’s not to love?

OsteoStrong

2277 Las Positas Road, Santa Barbara

805-682-2118

osteostrong.me

Open 24 hours seven days a week

[Photos courtesy of wellness centers]

Marianne Dougherty is an award-winning writer, editor and publisher, who has twice been a finalist for a Golden Quill Award for journalistic excellence. Predicting the day spa trend, she founded American Spa magazine in 1998. She has also been editor in chief of American Salon, Launchpad, and Shades of Beauty magazines. In 2003 she published her first novel, What We Remember, which was a Mariel Hemingway Book Club selection. Follow her on Instagram: @mariannedoughertyauthor. Or visit her website: mariannedougherty.com