The Effect of Whole Body Cryotherapy on Recovery and Performance: a Randomized Controlled Trial (Cryotherapy)

This study investigates the effects of whole-body cryotherapy vs. cold-water immersion after a muscle damage protocol.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cold
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Kryosauna Space Cabin; Other: cold water tub

Detailed Description

In this study the effects of a single- or multiple whole body cryotherapy (-135°C for max. 2 minutes) vs. cold water immersion (10°C for 15 min) and a passive control group (20 min supine position) are compared. These effects are examined after a muscle damage protocol of the frontal thighs (3 x 30 jumps). The objective recovery parameters are vertical jump, maximum voluntary contraction of the anterior thigh muscle, heart rate, blood pressure, skin-core body temperature and the oxygen saturation of the thigh muscles. Subjective recovery parameters are the local muscle soreness details and the general exhaustion details. The parameters are directly and 24, 48 and measured 72 hours after exposure. The aim is to elicit the effects of whole body cooling to make recommendations to. The current scientific knowledge situation calls for further studies to whole body cooling.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Landquart, Switzerland, 7302
    • Fachhochschule Südschweiz

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Only healthy young subjects 18-35 years no musculoskeletal surgery in trunk and lower extremities injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year subjects taking anticonceptive medication are allowed to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

Actual injuries or injuries for less than one year in trunk and /or lower extremities injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year with complaints anxiety of cooling subjects on medication pace maker cardiovascular disease pregnancy skeletal problems appendectomy for less than two years Morbus Raynaud syndrome

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Whole-body cryotherapy; The effects of whole-body cryotherapy (-135°C for 2 minutes) are investigated after a muscle damage protocol.	Device: Kryosauna Space Cabin; The whole body cryotherapy device is able to generatue temperatures up to -195°C for 3 minutes. In this study, we generate temperatures of -135°C for 2 minutes as proposed in the manual. The participant will enter the cabin in cold-resistant shoes and will remain in standing position during the whole procedure. The cold temperature is generated by vaporization of liquid nitrogen.; Other Names: Cryomed s.r.o.
Other: Cold-water immersion; The effects of cold-water immersion (10°C for 15 minutes) are investigated after a muscle damage protocol.	Other: cold water tub; The tub will be filled with cold water up to the sternal level of the participants. Adding ice will ensure a constant temperature. The participant will sit inside the tub during the whole procedure.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Vertical Jump	Vertical Jump will be assessed in cm with the Just Jump Plate	72 hours
Maximum voluntary contraction	Maximum voluntary contraction will be assessed in kg on a custom made ergometer chair (COR 1)	72 hours
Delayed onset of muscle soreness	DOMS will be assessed using a visual analog scale (0-10 cm)	72 hours
Ratings of perceived exertion	RPE will be assessed using a BORG scale (6-20)	72 hours
Skin temperature	Skin temperature of the neck, right scapula, right dorsal hand, right frontal thigh, right shin are assessed in °C using thermocouples (iButtons)	60 minutes
Core temperature	Core temperature will be assessed in °C via the ear	60 minutes
Cardiovascular measurements	Heart rate will be measured in beats per minute and bloop pressure will be measured in mm/Hg using an blood pressure monitor	60 min
Oxygenation of the right thigh muscle	Oxygenation of the right thigh muscle will be assessed in % using a near infrared spectometer.	60 min

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
• Collaborators: Vrije Universiteit Brussel; THIM - die internationale Hochschule für Physiotherapie
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ronaldus Clijsen, PhD, Fachhochschule Südschweiz

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 15, 2016
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 25, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): July 28, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 8, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 7, 2019
• Last Verified: August 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: recovery; Cold
• Other Study ID Numbers: PB_2016-01125

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No