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Whole-body cryotherapy in athletes
Giuseppe Banfi1, Giovanni Lombardi, Alessandra Colombini
1IRCCS Galeazzi, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. giuseppebanfi@supereva.it
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|June 8, 2010
Summary
Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) involves brief exposure to extreme cold for pain and inflammation relief. Studies show WBC is safe for athletes, aiding muscle recovery and reducing exercise-induced stress without doping concerns.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Physiology
- Thermotherapy
Background:
- Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) uses extreme cold (-110°C to -140°C) for pain and inflammation relief.
- WBC is utilized for rheumatic diseases, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and ankylosing spondylitis.
- Its application in sports medicine for muscle injury recovery is gaining acceptance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of WBC for athletes.
- To assess potential enhancements in injury recovery and physiological modifications.
- To consider WBC within the constraints of anti-doping regulations.
Main Methods:
- Exposure to very cold air in cryochambers for approximately 2 minutes.
- Analysis of various physiological and biochemical markers, including inflammatory cytokines, cardiac markers, and hormonal responses.
- Assessment of effects on oxidative stress and antioxidant status.
Main Results:
- WBC is safe for athletes, with no harmful or detrimental effects observed.
- It aids muscle recovery by positively affecting muscular enzymes like creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase.
- WBC demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects by modulating cytokines (e.g., increasing IL-10, decreasing IL-2, IL-8) and shows no cardiac tissue damage.
Conclusions:
- WBC is a safe procedure for athletes, facilitating recovery and reducing exercise-induced physiological stress.
- The treatment does not negatively impact immunological or cardiac markers and does not violate anti-doping rules.
- Further research is recommended to confirm these findings and explore optimal WBC protocols for athletic performance.
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