Cryotherapy Now a First-Line Option After Surgery

Determining the appropriate treatment and return-to-work strategies for injured workers is essential to ensuring effective recovery. The Tennessee Bureau of Workers’ Compensation continues to support evidence-based care through the adoption and use of the ODG by MCG® Treatment Guidelines, helping guide treatment decisions for injured workers across the state. 

One of the most recent updates to these guidelines, effective Oct. 3, 2025, is the recommendation of continuous-flow cryotherapy as a first-line treatment option following shoulder and knee surgery.  

What is Cryotherapy? 

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), cryotherapy refers to therapeutic techniques that use cold temperatures to support healing and recovery. These methods work by withdrawing heat from the body, which leads to reduced core and tissue temperatures and altered blood flow — factors that contribute to pain relief and inflammation control. After orthopedic recovery, continuous-flow cryotherapy helps to reduce swelling and inflammation, minimize pain, and accelerate recovery.  

The recommendation of continuous-flow cryotherapy as a first-line option means it is now considered as an initial treatment for post-surgical care in shoulder and knee procedures.