A high-tech state-of-the-art chamber, ultra-freezing temperatures—whole body cryotherapy (WBC) seems like something out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. However, the practice for which it is used—treatment using cold—dates back to 2500 BC. And the men behind bringing this revolutionary new method for pain treatment and performance enhancement to Sea Island aren’t from the future or another planet, they’re simply two accomplished businessmen and island residents who fail miserably at the whole idea of retirement.
Meet Richard Otto and Bob Atwood. Richard had a lengthy career in the medical products industry and moved to St. Simons Island from Atlanta in 1999. In 2001, Sea Island became Bob’s primary residence after he retired from a successful banking and finance industry career. It was a broken finger and the friendship of Dr. Melvin Deese that brought the two men together.
Bob explains, “I broke my finger in 2001 just after retiring from the bank and moving our primary residence to Sea Island. A friend suggested seeing Dr. Deese. During the examination he said I appeared to be someone that needed something to do and that he had a good friend who was looking to partner with someone in a new venture and would I be interested in meeting. I said ‘yes’ and the person turned out to be Richard Otto.”
That meeting led to the first business venture between Bob and Richard in the biotechnology industry. Bob sums up their endeavors since that fortuitous event: “In early 2002, we took a ‘virtual’ biotech company, recapitalized it, reversed-merged with a public company in San Diego, brought the company to Atlanta, raised $100 million, conducted FDA trials, and merged the company with another in 2006. Subsequently, we formed a LLC and consulted with a variety of health care related companies in diligence, evaluations and operations. We also worked with technology transfer activities at both Georgia Tech and Emory University. In November 2011, I joined Richard and we co-led the turnaround of a telemedicine company in Atlanta funded by three private equity firms from which we both retired in late 2013.”
Surely THIS time retirement meant they’d be hitting the links and lounging by the pool, right? No. These two are REALLY bad at grasping the retirement lifestyle. Instead, they turned their attention to the concept of whole body cryotherapy.
Bob explains, “In spring of 2014, Richard was introduced to whole body cryotherapy (WBC). Some initial diligence pointed to an opportunity to create a product to serve this growing health, wellness and fitness product. I joined in diligence activities and together we co-founded Impact Cryotherapy, Inc. about mid-year. I provided the initial funding as an investor and three others, including Dr. Deese, also participated in a small financing to acquire intellectual property from the design engineer of a WBC unit, to hire several individuals with knowledge about the WBC therapy and to engage a contract manufacturer in Atlanta to scale the business to a commercial level, which we have now attained. We subsequently raised additional capital to grow and expand. We are essentially a ‘start-up’ company but uniquely one that is already revenue generating.
Richard says Dr. Deese, who is now the Medical Director of Impact Cryotheraphy, played an important role in the founding of the company. “Beyond being a golf buddy, I respect Dr. Deese as a physician and as an astute business person. When conducting diligence on WBC he was helpful in explaining the physiological benefits of cold therapy, (endorphin release and other anti inflammatory agents in the body stimulated by WBC) and he quickly became interested in the potential uses of WBC. He introduced us to Dr. James Andrews and after meeting with Melvin, Dr. Andrews agreed to head the professional advisory board for Impact to lead our efforts in sports medicine.”
The men say that their decision to co-found the company was based in large measure on the tremendously positive reception by local PGA touring professional golfers and fitness enthusiasts to WBC when they brought a mobile unit to the area during due diligence. More than 60 golfers, trainers and members of a local fitness club had sessions and gave a “thumbs up.” They had essentially the same experience at a West Coast golf facility. “After that,” Bob says, “we knew golfers would be interested and we wanted to have a WBC in the St. Simons/Sea Island area. It was natural, that being from this area, we wanted to see a WBC unit associated with the prestigious and award-winning facilities at Sea Island.”
So what exactly IS WBC and how does it work? During a WBC session, the user enters an octagonal-shaped chamber and stands on an adjustable platform that ensures their head remains outside the chamber. The Impact Cryotherapy chamber is then filled with nitrogen vapor, which drops the temperature of the chamber to a range of minus100-150C, temporarily lowering the temperature of the skin's top layer. During the process, the skin sends signals to the brain that stimulate physical reactions and activate naturally occurring healing resources. The treatment only lasts three minutes maximum, so by the time you’re starting to register that you feel really cold, your time is up. The body immediately reheats once outside the chamber, and then the typical question is “when can I do it again?”
WBC has been used worldwide since 1979 to enhance recovery for elite athletes, and has been proven to be a valuable adjunct for speeding muscle recovery and producing a general feeling of well-being. Athletes are rapidly adopting WBC as a preferred substitute over ice baths for recovery, but also to prepare for enhanced performance, because a WBC session only lasts 3 minutes, compared to 20 minute ice baths. Many professional sports organizations across the globe now incorporate WBC into their training routines. WBC is similar to visit to a sauna or other fitness and wellness venue and has wide appeal for those seeking pain relief and performance recovery and enhancement.
The WBC unit is located in the Performance Therapy Center at The Lodge at Sea Island where it is used by golfers and others who seek fitness and wellness. Ella Stimpson, Spa Director, has been the leader in the initiative on behalf of Sea Island.
What does the future look like for WBC? Bob says, “Word of mouth is spreading the message and leading those curious to learn about WBC to the web or finding a facility to try a session. While we proactively target sales opportunities in four areas: 1) sports and fitness, 2) entrepreneurs for retail establishments, 3) spas and resorts, and 4) health professionals (chiropractors and physical trainers), the weekly inquiries over the web are providing multiple leads and sales.” With the ability to provide mobile units or equip stationary facilities, the opportunities for Impact Cryotherapy to grow in the industry seem limitless. And that means Bob and Richard may NEVER retire.
