Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effects of a Series of Treatments with Whole-Body Cryotherapy on Pain of the Cervical Spine in the Course of Degenerative Disease

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of a series of 10 treatments of whole-body cryotherapy combined with kinesitherapy on the cervical spine pain in the course of degenerative disease. Evaluation of the adverse effects occurrence during stay in a cryogenic chamber in patients of different ages. Materials and Methods: For the study, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 29 patients were qualified out of 231 patients who underwent the procedure of whole-body cryotherapy combined with kinesitherapy during the period of observation. The following data were used in the study: data from medical records, a sociodemographic questionnaire, standardized methods – the VAS scale and a modified questionnaire of pain indicators according to Laitinen. Results: In the VAS scale in about 93.1%, and based on the modified questionnaire of pain indicators according to Laitinen, in as many as 96.5% of patients, a reduction in the intensity of pain of the cervical spine after 10 sessions of whole-body cryotherapy combined with kinesitherapy was observed. On average, pain symptoms decreased by 2.9 points on the VAS scale and the average score according to modified questionnaire of pain indices according to Laitinen was by 2.8. Conclusions: A series of 10 procedures of whole-body cryotherapy combined with kinesitherapy reduces the intensity of pain in the cervical spine in the course of degenerative spine disease. Cryogenic chamber treatment is safe and well tolerated, regardless of the age.