Introduction

Cryotherapy is an umbrella term which refers to any treatment that involves cooling the body or specific tissues to promote recovery and manage injury. The primary mechanism of cryotherapy is based on removing heat energy from the body to reduce tissue temperature. Reducing tissue temperature leads to physiological changes that can aid in reducing pain, managing inflammation, and accelerating recovery (Michlovitz, 1990; Nadler, Weingand, & Kruse, 2004).

From whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) to localised cold treatments, elite football clubs are increasingly incorporating cryotherapy into their recovery and injury management protocols. This article focuses on the use
of local cryotherapy for injury management purposes, and the existing knowledge gaps in applying local cryotherapy effectively.