The impact of a single whole body cryostimulation treatment on selected skin properties of healthy young subjects

Retrospective analysis of whole-body cryotherapy adverse effects in Division I collegiate athletes

CONTEXT

Although the physiological effects and the performance of athletes after utilizing whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) have been widely studied, there is a lack of data on its adverse effects. It is important to be aware of the adverse effects of any treatment for its use to be properly recommended.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to provide insight to any adverse effects that collegiate athletes experienced after utilizing WBC to better utilize this therapeutic modality.

METHODS

After the Institutional Review Board (IRB) deemed exemption, all 457 Division 1-A varsity athletes were recruited via email to participate in a retrospective survey. Participants consented to the study by continuing to the questions. The inclusion criteria were that they must be 18 years of age or older, had completed WBC at that university, and were a student-athlete. The survey was six questions long, and if any of the inclusion criteria was not met, they were redirected to end the survey. The data were analyzed utilizing odds ratios.

RESULTS

Of the 457 student-athletes, 11.2% (n=51) responded and 6.3% (n=29) met the inclusion criteria. Responses were obtained from women's lacrosse (27.6%; n=8), women's gymnastics (24.1%, n=7), field hockey (17.2%, n=5), wrestling (6.9%, n=2), football (6.9%, n=2), women's cross country (3.5%, n=1), men's basketball (3.5%, n=1), women's volleyball (3.5%, n=1), softball (3.5%, n=1), and baseball (3.5%, n=1). Among the responses, 79.3% (n=23) were females and 29.7% (n=6) were males. Within 1 h of WBC, the most frequently reported adverse effects were skin rash (27.6%, n=8), itching (13.8%, n=4), and fatigue (6.9%, n=2). More than 1 h after WBC, the most frequently reported adverse effects were skin rash (20.7%, n=6), itching (10.3%, n=3), and increased energy (6.9%, n=2). When stratified by female and male athletes, for both within 1 h and more than 1 h after WBC, there were increased odds for females reporting adverse effects; however, neither were statistically significant (OR 4.58, p=0.19, 95% CI 0.46 to 45.61) (OR 3.84, p=0.25, 95% CI 0.39 to 38.36). Within 1 h of WBC, 58.6% (n=17) of subjects reported no adverse effects, and more than 1 h after WBC, 65.5% (n=19) subjects reported no adverse effects. The mean satisfaction level rating was 6.34 (range 0-10, n=29). When asked if they would do WBC again, 65.5% (n=19) responded "yes" and 34.5% (n=10) responded "no."

CONCLUSIONS

In this collegiate athlete population, negative adverse effects of WBC commonly included skin burns and itching while potentially proving a beneficial adverse effect of increased energy. Subjects commonly reported no adverse effects after WBC treatment as well.

A single session of whole-body cryotherapy boosts maximal cycling performance and enhances vagal drive at rest

Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) has been reported to maximize physical recovery after exercise and reduce the ensuing muscle damage. In addition, WBC triggers cardiovascular responses leading to an increased vagal drive. Here we tested whether WBC may boost exercise performance as well as post-exercise recovery. Moreover, we compared the effects of WBC and exercise on sympathovagal balance and tested whether these two factors may interact. ECG was recorded in 28 healthy adults who underwent rest, all-out effort on a cycloergometer, 5 min recovery and again rest. After 3-5 days, WBC (3 min exposure to - 150 °C air) was applied and the whole procedure repeated. Total exercise duration was split into the time needed to reach peak power output (t_PEAK) and the time to exhaustion (t_EXH). The post-exercise exponential decay of HR was characterized by its delay from exercise cessation (t_DELAY) and by its time constant (τ_OFF). Sympathovagal balance was evaluated by measuring HR variability power in the low (LF) and high (HF) frequency bands, both before exercise and after recovery from it. Sympathetic vs. vagal predominance was assessed by the sympathovagal index LFnu. Paired t-tests indicated that WBC increased t_EXH and reduced t_DELAY, speeding up the HR recovery. These results suggest that WBC may be exploited to boost exercise performance by about 12-14%. ANOVA on HR variability confirmed that exercise shifted the sympathovagal balance towards sympathetic predominance, but it also highlighted that WBC enhanced vagal drive at rest, both before exercise and after full recovery, covering ~ 70% of the exercise effect.

The Use of Cryotherapy in Cosmetology and the Influence of Cryogenic Temperatures on Selected Skin Parameters—A Review of the Literature

Cryotherapy is becoming an increasingly popular method used in medicine, physiotherapy, and cosmetology. It is used in the form of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) and local cryotherapy. It is a tool for achieving analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Since the beginning of its use, its influence on the mental state has also been pointed out. The aim of this study was to analyze the available literature on the effect of cryogenic temperatures on the skin and the mechanisms induced by such a stimulus and its influence on well-being. A literature search of keywords or phrases was performed in PubMed®. Various effects of WBC on skin characteristics (hydration, pH, level of transepidermal water loss), mechanisms of anti-inflammatory effects, and effects on adipocytes were shown. Research on the impact of individual skin characteristics is not consistent. Positive effects on the reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress have been noted. Cryotherapy is also successfully used in dermatology to treat lentil spots, actinic keratosis, and ingrown toenails, remove viral warts, or relieve itching in atopic dermatitis. The results of the review also indicate the effectiveness of WBC as an adjunctive treatment for obesity. The number of papers available on the direct effects of WBC on the skin is still limited, despite the fact that it represents the first contact of the human body with cryogenic temperatures. Available data show that cold as a physical stimulus can be a safe and useful tool in cosmetology.

A Multifaceted Approach for Cryogenic Waste Tire Recycling

One of the important aspects for degradation of the life quality is the ever increasing volume and range of industrial wastes. Polymer wastes, such as automotive tire rubber, are a source of long-term environmental pollution. This paper presents an approach to simplifying the rubber waste recycling process using cryogenic temperatures. The temperature of cryogenic treatment is ranged from 77 K to 280 K. Liquid nitrogen was used as a cryoagent for laboratory tests. Experimental and numerical studies have been carried out to determine the optimal conditions for the recycling process. Numerical studies were performed using the COMSOL Multiphysics cross-platform software. The optimal force of mechanical shock for the destruction of a tire which turned into a glassy state after cryoexposure was determined experimentally. The chemical and physical properties of the final product (crumb rubber) have been studied by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The analysis shows that the morphology and elemental composition of the samples remain practically unchanged, demonstrating environmental friendliness of the proposed process.