Our Interpretation Of Available Regulations
The information contained in this page is NOT legal advice. Please seek your own general counsel for all legal matters concerning your practice. The following information may change at any time and may not be up to date. This information was last updated December 2024 based on our available research that we were able to find. Use CTRL+F to find your state on this page.
Cryotherapy Regulations by State
(Humans)
Cryotherapy, particularly whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), involves exposing the body to extreme cold (often below -100°C) for therapeutic purposes. Regulations typically address operator training, client safety (e.g., preventing frostbite), and whether it’s classified as a medical procedure requiring oversight. Many states lack specific cryotherapy laws, treating it as a wellness practice unless medical claims are made, in which case it may fall under medical board jurisdiction.
Alabama: No specific cryotherapy regulations. Falls under general business licensing unless medical claims are made, then requires a licensed medical professional (e.g., MD, PT).
Alaska: No explicit laws. Likely regulated under general health and safety codes; operators may need basic training for liability.
Arizona: No state-specific cryotherapy laws. Physical therapists and chiropractors can offer it within their scope; otherwise, it’s a wellness service.
Arkansas: No dedicated regulations. Cryotherapy devices must comply with FDA guidelines if marketed medically; operators need no specific license for non-medical use.
California: No statewide cryotherapy-specific law, but strict consumer safety laws apply (e.g., Business and Professions Code). Medical use requires a licensed practitioner; wellness centers need clear disclaimers.
Colorado: No specific regulations. Treated as a non-medical wellness practice unless overseen by a licensed professional (e.g., PT, MD).
Connecticut: No explicit cryotherapy laws. General health regulations apply; medical oversight required if therapeutic claims are made.
Delaware: No specific rules. Operators must follow general safety standards; medical use falls under physician or PT scope.
Florida: No statewide cryotherapy regulation. Department of Health oversees if medical claims are made; otherwise, a business license suffices.
Georgia: No specific laws. Cryotherapy considered a wellness practice unless medical, then requires licensed oversight.
Hawaii: No explicit regulations. General health and safety codes apply; medical use needs a licensed practitioner.
Idaho: No cryotherapy-specific laws. Treated as a non-regulated wellness service unless medical claims trigger oversight.
Illinois: No specific regulations. Falls under general business and safety laws; medical use requires a licensed professional.
Indiana: No dedicated cryotherapy laws. Operators must ensure safety; medical claims require PT or MD supervision.
Iowa: No specific regulations. Cryotherapy is unregulated as a wellness practice unless medical in nature.
Kansas: No explicit laws. General health codes apply; medical use falls under professional licensing.
Kentucky: No cryotherapy-specific regulations. Treated as a wellness service; medical use needs licensed oversight.
Louisiana: No statewide laws. Safety standards apply; medical claims require a licensed practitioner.
Maine: No specific regulations. General business and health codes govern; medical use needs professional licensure.
Maryland: No cryotherapy laws. Wellness centers operate freely; medical use requires MD or PT oversight.
Massachusetts: No explicit regulations. Safety compliance required; medical claims trigger professional licensing rules.
Michigan: No specific cryotherapy laws. Treated as a wellness practice unless medical, then regulated by health boards.
Minnesota: No dedicated regulations. General safety laws apply; medical use requires a licensed practitioner.
Mississippi: No cryotherapy-specific laws. Wellness use unregulated; medical use under professional scope.
Missouri: No explicit regulations. Safety standards apply; medical claims need licensed oversight.
Montana: No specific laws. Treated as a wellness service; medical use requires professional licensure.
Nebraska: No cryotherapy regulations. General health codes apply; medical use needs a licensed practitioner.
Nevada: No statewide laws, but Las Vegas has seen local ordinances requiring operator training and safety protocols.
New Hampshire: No specific regulations. Wellness use unregulated; medical use under professional scope.
New Jersey: No cryotherapy-specific laws. General safety and business laws apply; medical use requires licensure.
New Mexico: No explicit regulations. Wellness practice unless medical, then overseen by health boards.
New York: No specific statewide law, but NYC has stricter safety rules (e.g., operator training, client waivers) due to frostbite incidents.
North Carolina: No cryotherapy regulations. Treated as wellness unless medical claims are made.
North Dakota: No specific laws. General safety standards apply; medical use requires licensure.
Ohio: No explicit regulations. Wellness centers operate freely; medical use needs PT or MD oversight.
Oklahoma: No cryotherapy-specific laws. Safety compliance required; medical use under professional scope.
Oregon: No statewide regulations. General health codes apply; medical claims trigger oversight.
Pennsylvania: No specific laws. Wellness use unregulated; medical use requires licensed practitioner.
Rhode Island: No cryotherapy regulations. Safety standards apply; medical use under professional scope.
South Carolina: No explicit laws. Treated as wellness unless medical, then regulated by health boards.
South Dakota: No specific regulations. General safety laws apply; medical use needs licensure.
Tennessee: No cryotherapy-specific laws. Wellness practice unless medical claims are made.
Texas: No statewide regulations, but some cities (e.g., Austin) require operator training and safety protocols.
Utah: No specific laws. Wellness use unregulated; medical use requires licensed oversight.
Vermont: No cryotherapy regulations. General health codes apply; medical use under professional scope.
Virginia: No explicit laws. Safety standards apply; medical claims need licensed practitioner.
Washington: No specific regulations. Wellness centers operate freely; medical use requires oversight.
West Virginia: No cryotherapy laws. Treated as wellness unless medical, then regulated.
Wisconsin: No specific regulations. General safety laws apply; medical use needs licensure.
Wyoming: No explicit laws. Wellness practice unregulated; medical use under professional scope.
General Notes on Cryotherapy:
The FDA does not regulate cryotherapy chambers as medical devices unless specific health claims are made, leaving much regulation to states or localities.
Common requirements (where regulated) include operator training, client consent forms, and safety measures (e.g., protective gear, time limits).
States with no specific laws often defer to professional scopes of practice (e.g., physical therapy, medicine) when cryotherapy is used therapeutically.
Cold Fascia Mobilization by State
(Humans)
Cold fascia mobilization sometimes referred to as muscle scraping (e.g., IASTM, Gua Sha) involves using tools or cold application to manipulate soft tissue. It’s typically regulated under the scope of practice for licensed professionals like physical therapists (PTs), chiropractors, massage therapists, or athletic trainers, rather than as a distinct practice. Few states have laws specifically naming these techniques; instead, they fall under broader therapeutic categories.
Alabama: No specific laws. Allowed within PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope with proper licensure.
Alaska: No explicit regulations. Permitted under PT or massage therapy license.
Arizona: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform within scope; massage therapists may need training.
Arkansas: No dedicated regulations. Falls under PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists may use with certification.
California: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with training) can perform under license.
Colorado: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
Connecticut: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists need
relevant training.
Delaware: No regulations. Falls under licensed professional scope (PT, chiropractic, massage).
Florida: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with certification) can perform.
Georgia: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists may need training.
Hawaii: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists regulated under HRS Chapter 452.
Idaho: No regulations. Falls under PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
Illinois: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform; massage therapists need training (225 ILCS 57).
Indiana: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists may use with certification.
Iowa: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with training) can perform.
Kansas: No regulations. Falls under PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists need
licensure.
Kentucky: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists regulated under KRS Chapter 309.
Louisiana: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
Maine: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform; massage therapists need training.
Maryland: No regulations. Falls under PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists may use with certification.
Massachusetts: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with training) can perform.
Michigan: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists need licensure.
Minnesota: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists regulated under MN Statutes Chapter 148.
Mississippi: No regulations. Falls under PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
Missouri: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform; massage therapists need training.
Montana: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists may use with certification.
Nebraska: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with training) can perform.
Nevada: No regulations. Falls under PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists regulated under NRS Chapter 640C.
New Hampshire: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists need licensure.
New Jersey: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
New Mexico: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform; massage therapists need training.
New York: No regulations. Falls under PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists regulated under Education Law Article 155.
North Carolina: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with training) can perform.
North Dakota: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists need licensure.
Ohio: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists regulated under ORC Chapter 4731.
Oklahoma: No regulations. Falls under PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
Oregon: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform; massage therapists need training (ORS Chapter 687).
Pennsylvania: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists may use with certification.
Rhode Island: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with training) can perform.
South Carolina: No regulations. Falls under PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists need licensure.
South Dakota: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists regulated under SDCL Chapter 36-35.
Tennessee: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
Texas: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform; massage therapists need training (Occupations Code Chapter 455).
Utah: No regulations. Falls under PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists regulated under Utah Code Title 58.
Vermont: No specific laws. PTs, chiropractors, and massage therapists (with training) can perform.
Virginia: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT or chiropractic scope; massage therapists need licensure.
Washington: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can use; massage therapists regulated under RCW Chapter 18.108.
West Virginia: No regulations. Falls under PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
Wisconsin: No specific laws. PTs and chiropractors can perform; massage therapists need training.
Wyoming: No explicit regulations. Allowed within PT, chiropractic, or massage therapy scope.
General Notes on Cold Fascia Mobilization/Muscle Scraping:
These techniques are rarely regulated independently but are considered part of soft tissue manipulation, falling under the scope of practice for PTs (regulated by state PT boards), chiropractors (state chiropractic boards), or massage therapists (state massage therapy boards).
Training or certification (e.g., in IASTM like Graston Technique) is often required by professional boards or employers, even if not explicitly mandated by state law.
Unlicensed individuals performing these techniques for compensation may violate state practice acts, risking penalties for practicing medicine or therapy without a license.
Cryotherapy Regulations by State
(Horses)
Cryotherapy in equine contexts includes methods like cold water immersion, ice packs, or advanced devices (e.g., cryosaunas, Subzero CO2 units). It’s generally seen as a non-invasive therapy, but regulations tighten if medical claims are made or if it’s performed by non-veterinarians for compensation.
Alabama: No specific equine cryotherapy laws. Falls under veterinary practice (Code of Ala. § 34-29-61) if therapeutic; veterinarians or supervised staff can perform. Unlicensed use for wellness is unregulated.
Alaska: No explicit regulations. Veterinary oversight required for medical use (Alaska Stat. § 08.98.250); wellness use by owners or trainers likely permitted.
Arizona: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (A.R.S. § 32-2231) governs if medical; otherwise, trainers/owners can use for maintenance.
Arkansas: No dedicated regulations. Veterinary supervision needed for therapeutic claims (Ark. Code § 17-101-102); wellness use unrestricted.
California: No equine-specific cryotherapy laws. Veterinary Medical Board (Bus. & Prof. Code § 4826) requires vet licensure for medical use; wellness use (e.g., ice boots) unregulated.
Colorado: No specific regulations. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-315-104); non-medical use by owners/trainers allowed.
Connecticut: No explicit laws. Veterinary practice act (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-197) applies if medical; wellness use unrestricted.
Delaware: No specific regulations. Veterinary supervision needed for therapeutic use (24 Del. C. § 3303); wellness use by owners permitted.
Florida: No statewide equine cryotherapy laws. Veterinary oversight required for medical claims (Fla. Stat. § 474.202); wellness use unregulated.
Georgia: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (O.C.G.A. § 43-50-21) governs therapeutic use; non-medical use unrestricted.
Hawaii: No explicit regulations. Veterinary licensure needed for medical use (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 471-2); wellness use by owners allowed.
Idaho: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (Idaho Code § 54-2103); wellness use unregulated.
Illinois: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary Medicine and Surgery Practice Act (225 ILCS 115/4) applies if medical; otherwise unrestricted.
Indiana: No specific laws. Veterinary supervision needed for therapeutic use (Ind. Code § 25-38.1-1-12); wellness use permitted.
Iowa: No explicit regulations. Veterinary oversight required for medical claims (Iowa Code § 169.3); non-medical use unrestricted.
Kansas: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (K.S.A. § 47-816) governs therapeutic use; wellness use by owners allowed.
Kentucky: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary licensure needed for medical use (KRS § 321.181); wellness use unrestricted.
Louisiana: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (La. R.S. § 37:1513); non-medical use permitted.
Maine: No explicit regulations. Veterinary Practice Act (32 M.R.S. § 4853) applies if medical; wellness use unregulated.
Maryland: No specific laws. Veterinary supervision needed for therapeutic claims (Md. Code, Agric. § 2-301); wellness use allowed.
Massachusetts: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary oversight required for medical use (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, § 54); non-medical use unrestricted.
Michigan: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (Mich. Comp. Laws § 333.18805) governs therapy; wellness use by owners permitted.
Minnesota: No explicit regulations. Veterinary licensure needed for medical use (Minn. Stat. § 156.01); wellness use unrestricted.
Mississippi: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapeutic claims (Miss. Code § 73-39-53); non-medical use allowed.
Missouri: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary Practice Act (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 340.200) applies if medical; wellness use unrestricted.
Montana: No specific laws. Veterinary supervision needed for therapy (Mont. Code Ann. § 37-18-102); non-medical use permitted.
Nebraska: No explicit regulations. Veterinary oversight required for medical use (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-3309); wellness use unregulated.
Nevada: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (NRS § 638.017) governs therapeutic use; wellness use by owners allowed.
New Hampshire: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary licensure needed for medical claims (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 332-B:1); non-medical use unrestricted.
New Jersey: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (N.J. Stat. § 45:16-1); wellness use permitted.
New Mexico: No explicit regulations. Veterinary Practice Act (N.M. Stat. § 61-14-2) applies if medical; non-medical use unregulated.
New York: No specific equine cryotherapy laws. Veterinary supervision needed for therapeutic use (N.Y. Educ. Law § 6702); wellness use allowed.
North Carolina: No regulations. Veterinary oversight required for medical claims (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-181); non-medical use unrestricted.
North Dakota: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (N.D. Cent. Code § 43-29-01) governs therapy; wellness use permitted.
Ohio: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary licensure needed for medical use (Ohio Rev. Code § 4741.01); non-medical use unrestricted.
Oklahoma: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapeutic claims (59 Okl. St. § 698.2); wellness use allowed.
Oregon: No explicit regulations. Veterinary Practice Act (ORS § 686.020) applies if medical; non-medical use unregulated.
Pennsylvania: No specific laws. Veterinary supervision needed for therapy (63 P.S. § 485.2); wellness use permitted.
Rhode Island: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary oversight required for medical use (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-25-2); non-medical use unrestricted.
South Carolina: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (S.C. Code § 40-69-20) governs therapeutic use; wellness use allowed.
South Dakota: No explicit regulations. Veterinary licensure needed for medical claims (S.D. Codified Laws § 36-12-1); non-medical use unrestricted.
Tennessee: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-12-103); wellness use permitted.
Texas: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary Practice Act (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.002) applies if medical; non-medical use unregulated.
Utah: No specific laws. Veterinary supervision needed for therapeutic use (Utah Code § 58-28-102); wellness use allowed.
Vermont: No explicit regulations. Veterinary oversight required for medical claims (Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 2401); non-medical use unrestricted.
Virginia: No specific laws. Veterinary Practice Act (Va. Code § 54.1-3800) governs therapy; wellness use permitted.
Washington: No equine cryotherapy regulations. Veterinary licensure needed for medical use (RCW § 18.92.010); non-medical use unrestricted.
West Virginia: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapeutic claims (W. Va. Code § 30-10-1); wellness use allowed.
Wisconsin: No explicit regulations. Veterinary Practice Act (Wis. Stat. § 89.02) applies if medical; non-medical use unregulated.
Wyoming: No specific laws. Veterinary supervision needed for therapy (Wyo. Stat. § 33-30-202); wellness use permitted.
General Notes on Equine Cryotherapy:
Most states regulate cryotherapy under veterinary practice acts if it’s used to diagnose or treat a condition, requiring a licensed veterinarian (DVM) or supervised staff.
Non-medical use (e.g., ice boots by owners or trainers post-exercise) is generally unregulated, falling under animal husbandry exemptions.
Advanced devices (e.g., cryosaunas, CO2 units) may require FDA compliance if marketed with medical claims, but this is federal, not state-specific.
FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) rules ban cryotherapy within 5 days of competition, influencing state-level practices for sport horses.
Cold Fascia Mobilization by State
(Horses)
Cold fascia mobilization for horses, akin to IASTM or Gua Sha, involves using tools to manipulate soft tissue, often with cold application. It’s typically regulated under veterinary or equine therapy scopes of practice, with few states explicitly naming it.
Alabama: No specific laws. Veterinary oversight required if therapeutic (Code of Ala. § 34-29-61); unlicensed use by trainers may be restricted.
Alaska: No explicit regulations. Falls under veterinary scope for medical use (Alaska Stat. § 08.98.250); wellness use unregulated.
Arizona: No specific laws. Veterinary or equine PT scope applies (A.R.S. § 32-2231); non-medical use permitted.
Arkansas: No regulations. Veterinary supervision needed for therapy (Ark. Code § 17-101-102); wellness use unrestricted.
California: No explicit laws. Veterinary licensure required for medical use (Bus. & Prof. Code § 4826); certified equine massage therapists may perform with training.
Colorado: No specific regulations. Veterinary or PT scope applies (Colo. Rev. Stat. § 12-315-104); non-medical use allowed.
Connecticut: No laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 20-197); wellness use unregulated.
Delaware: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies for medical use (24 Del. C. § 3303); non-medical use permitted.
Florida: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed for therapy (Fla. Stat. § 474.202); equine massage therapists may perform with certification.
Georgia: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (O.C.G.A. § 43-50-21); wellness use unrestricted.
Hawaii: No laws. Veterinary licensure required for medical use (Haw. Rev. Stat. § 471-2); non-medical use allowed.
Idaho: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies for therapy (Idaho Code § 54-2103); wellness use unregulated.
Illinois: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed (225 ILCS 115/4); certified therapists may perform under supervision.
Indiana: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Ind. Code § 25-38.1-1-12); non-medical use permitted.
Iowa: No laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (Iowa Code § 169.3); wellness use unrestricted.
Kansas: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (K.S.A. § 47-816); non-medical use allowed.
Kentucky: No explicit laws. Veterinary licensure needed for medical use (KRS § 321.181); equine therapists may perform with training.
Louisiana: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (La. R.S. § 37:1513); wellness use permitted.
Maine: No laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (32 M.R.S. § 4853); non-medical use unregulated.
Maryland: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Md. Code, Agric. § 2-301); certified therapists may perform.
Massachusetts: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 112, § 54); wellness use unrestricted.
Michigan: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Mich. Comp. Laws § 333.18805); non-medical use permitted.
Minnesota: No laws. Veterinary licensure required for therapy (Minn. Stat. § 156.01); wellness use unregulated.
Mississippi: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Miss. Code § 73-39-53); non-medical use allowed.
Missouri: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 340.200); certified therapists may perform.
Montana: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Mont. Code Ann. § 37-18-102); wellness use permitted.
Nebraska: No laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 38-3309); non-medical use unregulated.
Nevada: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (NRS § 638.017); equine therapists may perform with training.
New Hampshire: No explicit laws. Veterinary licensure needed (N.H. Rev. Stat. § 332-B:1); wellness use unrestricted.
New Jersey: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (N.J. Stat. § 45:16-1); non-medical use permitted.
New Mexico: No laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (N.M. Stat. § 61-14-2); wellness use unregulated.
New York: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (N.Y. Educ. Law § 6702); certified therapists may perform.
North Carolina: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-181); non-medical use allowed.
North Dakota: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (N.D. Cent. Code § 43-29-01); wellness use permitted.
Ohio: No laws. Veterinary licensure required for therapy (Ohio Rev. Code § 4741.01); non-medical use unregulated.
Oklahoma: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (59 Okl. St. § 698.2); equine therapists may perform with training.
Oregon: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed (ORS § 686.020); wellness use unrestricted.
Pennsylvania: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (63 P.S. § 485.2); certified therapists may perform.
Rhode Island: No laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (R.I. Gen. Laws § 5-25-2); non-medical use unregulated.
South Carolina: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (S.C. Code § 40-69-20); wellness use permitted.
South Dakota: No explicit laws. Veterinary licensure needed (S.D. Codified Laws § 36-12-1); non-medical use unrestricted.
Tennessee: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Tenn. Code Ann. § 63-12-103); equine therapists may perform.
Texas: No laws. Veterinary oversight required for therapy (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.002); non-medical use allowed.
Utah: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Utah Code § 58-28-102); wellness use permitted.
Vermont: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed (Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 26, § 2401); non-medical use unregulated.
Virginia: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Va. Code § 54.1-3800); certified therapists may perform.
Washington: No laws. Veterinary licensure required for therapy (RCW § 18.92.010); wellness use unrestricted.
West Virginia: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (W. Va. Code § 30-10-1); non-medical use permitted.
Wisconsin: No explicit laws. Veterinary oversight needed (Wis. Stat. § 89.02); equine therapists may perform with training.
Wyoming: No specific regulations. Veterinary scope applies (Wyo. Stat. § 33-30-202); wellness use allowed.
General Notes on Equine Cold Fascia Mobilization:
Rarely regulated independently; falls under veterinary practice or equine massage/therapy scopes where defined (e.g., CA, FL, KY allow certified equine massage therapists).
Veterinary oversight is typically required if used to treat a diagnosed condition; unlicensed practitioners risk violating practice acts if charging for services.
Training (e.g., IASTM certification) is often a professional standard, not a legal mandate, unless specified by state veterinary boards.
Tools must comply with animal welfare laws (e.g., no undue harm); misuse could trigger cruelty investigations.
Websites And Resources To Regulators
American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP)
Description: A leading organization for equine veterinarians, offering resources on equine rehabilitation and therapy. Includes information on cryotherapy for treating acute injuries and inflammation, as well as manual therapies that may encompass muscle scraping.
Website: www.aaep.org
University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine
Description: A top veterinary school providing articles and research on cryotherapy and muscle scraping for horses. Covers the benefits and applications of these therapies in equine musculoskeletal health.
Website: www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu
International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA)
Description: Focuses on equine chiropractic care, including manual therapies like muscle scraping. Offers certification programs and resources for practitioners.
Website: www.ivca.de (Note: IVCA is international, and the website may vary by region.)
American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA)
Description: Promotes holistic veterinary care and provides resources on therapies such as cryotherapy (cold therapy) and manual techniques like muscle scraping for horses.
Website: www.ahvma.org
Regulators and Government Agencies
California Veterinary Medical Board
Description: A state regulatory body overseeing veterinary practice in California, including alternative therapies like cryotherapy and muscle scraping. Provides guidelines and requirements for practitioners.
Website: www.vmb.ca.gov
Note: Each U.S. state has its own veterinary board; check your state’s board for local regulations.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – Center for Veterinary Medicine
Description: A federal agency regulating veterinary devices, including cryotherapy equipment used on horses. Offers guidance on the classification, safety, and efficacy of these devices.
Website: www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary
Peer-Reviewed Journals and Studies
Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
Description: A peer-reviewed journal publishing research on equine health, including studies on the effects of cryotherapy on equine limbs.
Website: www.j-evs.com
Equine Veterinary Journal
Description: A peer-reviewed publication featuring articles on equine therapy, including research on instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (muscle scraping) in horses.
Website: beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/20423306
Additional Information
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Cryotherapy is not federally regulated by the FDA. Cold Fascia Mobilization (CFM) regulations differ from state to state. It is YOUR responsibility to comply with all legal regulations in your area. Precision Equine Cryotherapy does not make any claims of health benefits or results from cryotherapy or cold fascia mobilization (CFM). Instead we let our testimonials speak for us from many happy clients we have served over the years. Brady Case operates in accordance with all state laws under the supervision of multiple veterinarian professionals and is a post secondary certified recreational therapist. Our training course is for persons to use on their own animals. If you wish to use our course to operate as a business, please comply with all state and federal laws. The course is NOT accredited or recognized by any regulatory institutions because the industry is not fully regulated and regulations are dependent on state. For more information visit visit our compliance page located below.
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