Whole-body cryostimulation in sportsmen a study of the effect of cryogenic temperatures on oxidative stress and inflammation after the exercise

SUBJECTS The study group consisted of 56 sportsmen: volleyball players (n = 18), basketball players (n = 16), football players (n = 22) and 32 amateur athletes. The subjects will be underwent 2-3 min WBC procedure (temp. -130 degrees Celsius) and next 40 min aerobic physical effort. After two weeks control examination will be performed, aerobic physical effort without any stimulation in the cryogenic chamber. The study will be performed during the sportsmen resting time after a trainings and sports competitions, while amateurs finished their exercises two weeks before the start of the study. Blood samples will be taken with ulnar vein four times: before the start of the experiment (before the WBC), just after the WBC procedure, after exercise accompanied by cryostimulation and after exercise without wholly exposed to extremely low temperatures. TEST CONDITIONS The study will be performed during the sportsmen resting time after a trainings and sports competitions, while amateurs finished their exercises two weeks before the start of the study. The first physical effort (combined with cryostimulation) as a part of the experiment will be conducted two weeks after the end of the training session (and/or sports competitions). The second exercise (control, without cryostimulation) will be performed two weeks after the first one. During the first stage of the study, prior to the exercise the athletes will be subjected to a single whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) procedure. Then the sportsmen will start 40-min submaximal physical effort using a cycle ergometer Monark 828 E (Monark Exercise AB, Sweden). At the second stage of the study the subjects will start the same exercise, but no cryostimulation (control exercise). The frequency of heart contraction should be the physiological criterion of the burdening of the organism. During both stages of the study it should be equal to ~85% HRmax and it should be keep the same during the whole physical effort by all the athletes. The heart rate is monitored by means of a Polar H7 Heart Rate Sensor (Polar Electro Oy, Finland) connected to the PC. THE COURSE OF THE WHOLE BODY CRYOSTIMULATION (WBC) PROCEDURE The whole body cryotherapy will be conducted by means of a single entry into the Arctica cryochamber with the effect of cold retention (Metrum CryoFlex, Poland). The cryogenic chamber is cooled using synthetic vapors, liquid air, which is a homogenous mixture of nitrogen and oxygen (with 22% ± 2% of oxygen). This increases the safety of the procedure. In order to make use of the cold retention phenomenon the cryogenic chamber is placed about 2.5 m under the floor level. Each study participant entered the actual therapy chamber by means of stairs which constituted a mild adaptive area. An open vestibule, in which the temperature is kept at -60ºC during all of the procedures, is located at the base of the stairs. The vestibule and the main chamber are separated by double swing-doors. During the procedure the temperature was maintained at -130ºC. Before entering the cryochamber the subjects put on a special safety suit to protect certain parts of the body against frostbite. Dust masks were used to protect the air passages. Every subject will be informed about the rules of conduct during the procedure: the need for slow, shallow breathing (short nasal inhalation, longer oral exhalation) and the way to move about (slow walking in circles). The total time a subject stayed in the cryochamber will be not longer than 2 minutes. Every entry into the main chamber will be preceded by 10-20 seconds of adaptation in the open vestibule (temp. -60ºC). In cryogenic chamber can stay at the same time 5 subjects. The subjects will be qualified for the WBC on the basis of a positive assessment of their health during a medical checkup. The research will be supervised by a physician (doctor) and physiotherapist with 5 years of professional experience. The experiment will be carried out in the center of sport and recreation.