Whole Body Cryotherapy Studies

In sports medicine, WBC is also now popular and it is known for improving recovery from muscular traumas, although controlled studies have not been published. The treatment is not dangerous for lung function (Smolander et al., 2006), and did not decrease the antioxidant capacity (Dugué et al., 2005).

Cryogenic physiotherapy – medical and generally therapeutic procedure based on the short-term contact of the skin surface with the gas cooled to the temperature of -180ºC to -120º C. The duration of the contact is considerably important. Since the skin surface has to be cooled to the temperature low than 0º C (32º F) for at least 90 sec., the time of the therapeutic treatment should last from 2 to 3 minutes.The procedure consists of a person immersing up to the neck into the gas (atmosphere) cooled to –130º -180º C. The temperature and the length of the procedure are selected depending on the characteristics of the skin. The procedure affects only the thin layer of skin where thermal receptors are located, while the rest of the body does not experience a substantial overcooling.

Cold therapy is commonly used as a procedure to relieve pain symptoms, particularly in inflammatory diseases, injuries and overuse symptoms. A peculiar form of cold therapy (or stimulation) was proposed 30 years ago for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. The therapy, called whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), consists of exposure to very cold air that is maintained at -110C to -140C in special temperature-controlled cryochambers, generally for 2 minutes. WBC is used to relieve pain and inflammatory symptoms caused by numerous disorders, particularly those associated with rheumatic conditions, and is recommended for the treatment of arthritis, fibromyalgia and ankylosing spondylitis. In sports medicine, WBC has gained wider acceptance as a method to improve recovery from muscle injury.

Cryotherapy as a whole-body cold therapy (with cold air cooled by addition of nitrogen blown on the patients in an open cabin) for treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases already started in Bad Säckingen in 1986. In 1996, a new cold chamber (this time a closed chamber without any addition of nitrogen) based on compressor technology was introduced.

Athletes participating in competitive sports are often exposed to over-load training and competition, which may include repeated, high-intensity exercise sessions performed multiple times per week [1]. Intense training and competition particularly with under recovery time could induce muscle damage and subsequent inflammation indicated by muscle soreness, swelling, prolonged loss of muscle function and the leakage of muscle proteins, such as C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in the circulation [2,3].

Dear Cryo Family,
While some are not aware of the most recent events, many are aware of the recent statements made by the FDA concerning whole body cryotherapy. Did you know that there are many modalities that are used daily all over the US that do help people that are not FDA approved? Such as supplements, alkaline water, alternative healing therapies, and more. There are certain medications that were once FDA approved, then were later removed from the market.