Whole-Body Cryotherapy

Whole-body cryotherapy consists of exposure to very cold air, generally maintained at -110 to -140 degrees C in special temperature-controlled cryochambers for about 2 minutes. ^[1] It was originally employed as a therapeutic method for alleviating pain associated with various musculoskeletal conditions in sports medicine, and its application has since expanded into rheumatology, psychiatry, and neurology. ^[2] Whole-body cryotherapy is fundamentally different from partial-body cryotherapy, in which the body except the head is exposed to vaporized liquid nitrogen while standing in a narrow bathtub, and the two are often erroneously conflated. ^[3]

Whole-body cryotherapy appears to exert anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects primarily through modulation of cytokine activity, leading to pain reduction and improved functional outcomes. ^[2] In athletes, whole-body cryotherapy increases the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 and decreases the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-2 and chemokine interleukin-8, and induces oxidative stress only at a low level. ^[1] Because of the relatively poor thermal conductivity of air, whole-body cryotherapy produces a large surface temperature gradient but prevents significant subcutaneous and core body cooling. ^[4]

A meta-analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials with a total sample of 274 participants found that serum interleukin-1-beta was lower and interleukin-10 was higher after whole-body cryotherapy exposure compared with control. ^[5] A Cochrane review of four laboratory-based randomized controlled trials reporting results for 64 predominantly young adults found only very low quality evidence and insufficient evidence to determine whether whole-body cryotherapy reduces muscle soreness or improves recovery after exercise. ^[6] A review found weak evidence from controlled studies that whole-body cryotherapy enhances antioxidant capacity and alters inflammatory pathways, and suggested athletes should remain aware that less expensive modes such as ice packs or cold-water immersion offer comparable effects. ^[4] A systematic review and meta-analysis of whole-body cryotherapy for mental health problems included ten studies reporting on 294 participants and found a large within-group effect for depressive symptoms, but the authors described the evidence as preliminary and called for larger randomized controlled trials. ^[7] Across clinical applications the study findings remain heterogeneous, largely due to variability in treatment protocols and patient populations, and the long-term effects of whole-body cryotherapy are still insufficiently explored. ^[2]

Whole-body cryotherapy is a non-pharmacological treatment that can result in improved sleep quality, faster neuromuscular recovery after high-intensity exercise, and chronic pain relief for patients with conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatism, and arthritis. ^[3] It is considered safe when applied under controlled conditions, though potential risks include frostbite and impaired muscle strength, and contraindications must be carefully assessed. ^[8] The lack of evidence on adverse events is important given that exposure to extreme temperature presents a potential hazard, and further high-quality, well-reported research is required. ^[6]