Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) at -120°C is a new rehabilitative and spa method. It was introduced for the first time in Japan and appeared in Europe in 1985. In the Czech Republic WBC was offered to patients – clients of the rehabilitation centre in Celadna spa – for the first time in August 2004. The effect of WBC for a period of 3 minutes on oral (To) and skin temperatures (Ts) and blood pressure (BP) was monitored before and after WBC exposure both in our study and in some other studies. ECG was registered in our study only. WBC caused significant but slight decrease To. The lowest Ts were recorded on the forearm and on the calf (5.2 °C). These results documented that WBC involves no risk for frostbites. Both systolic and diastolic BP revealed a slight decrease after WBC in our study, but a slight increase in other studies. ECG curves were in all patients without pathological changes. Arthrosis, chronic joint inflammations and chronic inflammations of the cervical spine, fibromyalgia, fibrositis, fibromyositis, connective tissue diseases and autoimmune diseases are mentioned as indications for WBC. Lowering of pain, improvement both of function and the general well being immediately after WBC were reported. Cooling application can be also successfully used as preparation for endurance activities, as optimization both of the power requirement and the regeneration. Both previous studies and our findings demonstrated harmlessness of WBC on the before-mentioned variables.

Ústav tělovýchovného lékařství Lékařská fakulta UK Plzeň

Whole-body cryotherapy - a new therapeutic and regenerative method?

Lit.: 15