Abstract
BackgroundWhole body cryotherapy (WBC) is the therapeutic application of extreme cold air for a short duration. Minimal evidence is available for determining optimal exposure time.PurposeTo explore whether the length of WBC exposure induces differential changes in inflammatory markers, tissue oxygenation, skin and core temperature, thermal sensation and comfort.MethodThis study was a randomised cross over design with participants acting as their own control. Fourteen male professional first team super league rugby players were exposed to 1, 2, and 3 minutes of WBC at −135°C. Testing took place the day after a competitive league fixture, each exposure separated by seven days.ResultsNo significant changes were found in the inflammatory cytokine interleukin six. Significant reductions (p<0.05) in deoxyhaemoglobin for gastrocnemius and vastus lateralis were found. In vastus lateralis significant reductions (p<0.05) in oxyhaemoglobin and tissue oxygenation index (p<0.05) were demonstrated. Significant reductions (p<0.05) in skin temperature were recorded. No significant changes were recorded in core temperature. Significant reductions (p<0.05) in thermal sensation and comfort were recorded.ConclusionThree brief exposures to WBC separated by 1 week are not sufficient to induce physiological changes in IL-6 or core temperature. There are however significant changes in tissue oxyhaemoglobin, deoxyhaemoglobin, tissue oxygenation index, skin temperature and thermal sensation. We conclude that a 2 minute WBC exposure was the optimum exposure length at temperatures of −135°C and could be applied as the basis for future studies.
Highlights
Whole body cryotherapy (WBC) is the therapeutic application of extremely cold dry air, usually between 2110uC and 2140uC [1,2]
No significant changes were recorded in core temperature
Three brief exposures to WBC separated by 1 week are not sufficient to induce physiological changes in IL-6 or core temperature
Summary
Whole body cryotherapy (WBC) is the therapeutic application of extremely cold dry air, usually between 2110uC and 2140uC [1,2]. A number of studies [1,3,4,5,6,7,8] have investigated the physiological effects of WBC, the optimal WBC protocol required to initiate beneficial physiological responses is unknown [2,9]. This is due to the lack of randomised controlled clinical studies investigating either exposure duration or number of treatment cycles [2,9]. Purpose: To explore whether the length of WBC exposure induces differential changes in inflammatory markers, tissue oxygenation, skin and core temperature, thermal sensation and comfort
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