Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium
Abstract Over the two last decades, whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC) has emerged as an exciting non-pharmacological treatment influencing inflammatory events at a cellular and physiological level, which can result in improved sleep quality, faster neuromuscular recovery after high-intens...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-09-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Medical Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-023-01385-z |
| _version_ | 1797259412987969536 |
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| author | Fabien D. Legrand Benoît Dugué Joe Costello Chris Bleakley Elzbieta Miller James R. Broatch Guillaume Polidori Anna Lubkowska Julien Louis Giovanni Lombardi François Bieuzen Paolo Capodaglio |
| author_facet | Fabien D. Legrand Benoît Dugué Joe Costello Chris Bleakley Elzbieta Miller James R. Broatch Guillaume Polidori Anna Lubkowska Julien Louis Giovanni Lombardi François Bieuzen Paolo Capodaglio |
| author_sort | Fabien D. Legrand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Over the two last decades, whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC) has emerged as an exciting non-pharmacological treatment influencing inflammatory events at a cellular and physiological level, which can result in improved sleep quality, faster neuromuscular recovery after high-intensity exercise, and chronic pain relief for patients suffering different types of diseases (fibromyalgia, rheumatism, arthritis). Some evidence even suggests that WBC has benefits on mental health (depression, anxiety disorders) and cognitive functions in both adults and older adults, due to increased circulating BDNF levels. Recently, some safety concerns have been expressed by influential public health authorities (e.g., FDA, INSERM) based on reports from patients who developed adverse events upon or following WBC treatment. However, part of the data used to support these claims involved individuals whose entire body (except head) was exposed to extreme cold vaporized liquid nitrogen while standing in a narrow bathtub. Such a procedure is known as partial-body cryotherapy (PBC), and is often erroneously mistaken to be whole-body cryotherapy. Although having similarities in terms of naming and pursued aims, these two approaches are fundamentally different. The present article reviews the available literature on the main safety concerns associated with the use of true whole-body cryotherapy. English- and French-language reports of empirical studies including case reports, case series, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science electronic databases. Five case reports and two RCTs were included for a total of 16 documented adverse events (AEs). A critical in-depth evaluation of these AEs (type, severity, context of onset, participant’s medical background, follow-up) is proposed and used to illustrate that WBC-related safety risks are within acceptable limits and can be proactively prevented by adhering to existing recommendations, contraindications, and commonsense guidelines. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:23:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3c9ee07b1ff54c62b9022283225a4f85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2047-783X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T23:09:02Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Medical Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-3c9ee07b1ff54c62b9022283225a4f852024-03-17T12:19:29ZengBMCEuropean Journal of Medical Research2047-783X2023-09-012811810.1186/s40001-023-01385-zEvaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortiumFabien D. Legrand0Benoît Dugué1Joe Costello2Chris Bleakley3Elzbieta Miller4James R. Broatch5Guillaume Polidori6Anna Lubkowska7Julien Louis8Giovanni Lombardi9François Bieuzen10Paolo Capodaglio11Laboratoire C2S, EA 6291, Université de Reims Champagne ArdennesLaboratoire Mobilité Vieillissement, Exercice (MOVE), UR 20296, Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de PoitiersExtreme Environments Laboratory, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science, University of PortsmouthFaculty of Life and Health Sciences, Ulster UniversityDepartment of Neurological Rehabilitation, Medical University of LodzInstitute for Health and Sport (IHES), Victoria UniversityMATIM, Université de Reims Champagne ArdennesDepartment of Functional Diagnostics and Physical Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University in SzczecinResearch Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences (RISES), Liverpool John Moores UniversityLaboratory of Experimental Biochemistry, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico GaleazziService des Sciences du Sport, Institut National du Sport du QuébecLaboratorio di Ricerca in Biomeccanica, Riabilitazione ed Ergonomia, Università di TorinoAbstract Over the two last decades, whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC) has emerged as an exciting non-pharmacological treatment influencing inflammatory events at a cellular and physiological level, which can result in improved sleep quality, faster neuromuscular recovery after high-intensity exercise, and chronic pain relief for patients suffering different types of diseases (fibromyalgia, rheumatism, arthritis). Some evidence even suggests that WBC has benefits on mental health (depression, anxiety disorders) and cognitive functions in both adults and older adults, due to increased circulating BDNF levels. Recently, some safety concerns have been expressed by influential public health authorities (e.g., FDA, INSERM) based on reports from patients who developed adverse events upon or following WBC treatment. However, part of the data used to support these claims involved individuals whose entire body (except head) was exposed to extreme cold vaporized liquid nitrogen while standing in a narrow bathtub. Such a procedure is known as partial-body cryotherapy (PBC), and is often erroneously mistaken to be whole-body cryotherapy. Although having similarities in terms of naming and pursued aims, these two approaches are fundamentally different. The present article reviews the available literature on the main safety concerns associated with the use of true whole-body cryotherapy. English- and French-language reports of empirical studies including case reports, case series, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science electronic databases. Five case reports and two RCTs were included for a total of 16 documented adverse events (AEs). A critical in-depth evaluation of these AEs (type, severity, context of onset, participant’s medical background, follow-up) is proposed and used to illustrate that WBC-related safety risks are within acceptable limits and can be proactively prevented by adhering to existing recommendations, contraindications, and commonsense guidelines.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-023-01385-zWhole-Body Cryotherapy/Cryostimulation (WBC)Adverse eventsScoping reviewInternational consortium |
| spellingShingle | Fabien D. Legrand Benoît Dugué Joe Costello Chris Bleakley Elzbieta Miller James R. Broatch Guillaume Polidori Anna Lubkowska Julien Louis Giovanni Lombardi François Bieuzen Paolo Capodaglio Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium European Journal of Medical Research Whole-Body Cryotherapy/Cryostimulation (WBC) Adverse events Scoping review International consortium |
| title | Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium |
| title_full | Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium |
| title_short | Evaluating safety risks of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC): a scoping review from an international consortium |
| title_sort | evaluating safety risks of whole body cryotherapy cryostimulation wbc a scoping review from an international consortium |
| topic | Whole-Body Cryotherapy/Cryostimulation (WBC) Adverse events Scoping review International consortium |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-023-01385-z |
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