Scotland has never been known for its warm climate, but members of the ClanFit gym in Glasgow were given the chance to go seriously sub-zero this week, thanks to an extreme cryotherapy treatment.

BOC – an industrial and medical gases and technologies business – has developed what it says is the world’s first mobile cryotherapy chamber and is now taking it on the road, offering to visit health clubs and spas across the UK.

The cryotherapy treatment – which exposes users to short bursts of extreme cold (-135°C) – is an exercise recovery technique utilised by elite level athletes including Premier League footballers and the British and Irish Lions. Proponents say it speeds up injury recovery times and gets athletes back working out days ahead of schedule after the strains of competitive action or rigorous training. The treatment has been used to treat rheumatism, muscle and joint pain and inflammation, while it is described as “more pleasant than an ice bath” as the dryness of the chamber avoids the shock and discomfort of submergence in ice-cold water.

ClanFit members spent 30 seconds in a -60°C ‘pre-chamber’, before entering the two-person -135°C main chamber for two minutes. An air monitoring kit and a BOC operator fully-trained in cryogenic gas handling were on hand to ensure everything went to plan.

“We are always looking at bringing the techniques from the athletic development training world to help the general public achieve their health and fitness goals,” said David Nowell-Cook, CrossFit trainer at ClanFit.

“Cryotherapy certainly fits the bill and we are sure our members will benefit from improved injury prevention and rehabilitation, as well as additional support for their strength and conditioning and agility training programmes.”