The influence of whole-body cryotherapy on physiological blood indicators, oxidative stress and selected disease markers in people with multiple sclerosis

The study was attended by 30 women with multiple sclerosis and 15 women without neurological and other chronic diseases. There were 3 study groups: interventional and 2 active control groups. The participants were recruited through posted advertisement at Malopolska Cryotherapy Rehabilitation Center in Krakow. Allocation of subjects into different groups was done through volunteer sampling. The women were included in the research program after obtaining the consent from the neurologist, physician and after consultation with the physiotherapist (assessment of the health status, functional status, course of the disease, type of the current treatment and medicines). Women from the interventional group took part in 20 whole body cryotherapy sessions 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Whole body cryotherapy (WBC) was carried at the Malopolska Cryotherapy Rehabilitation Center in Krakow. Parameters in the cryochamber were as following: · Atrium temperature: -60 ° C, · Chamber temperature: -120 ° C. The time of a single WBC session during study period was respectively: · 1.5 min (1 treatment), · 2 minutes (2 treatments), · 3 minutes (3-20 treatments). Women entering the cryochamber were dressed in swimsuits, high woolen socks and shoes with a high wooden sole. Parts of the body most exposed to low temperature were covered (the subjects had gloves, head covering and face mask). After being exposed to cryotherapy, the patients warmed up with light cycling on a cycloergometer for 30 minutes. Treatments were supervised directly by a trained physiotherapist. A doctor was present at the Rehabilitation Center throughout the entire duration of the treatment. To assess adherence to the intervention a session attendance checklist was used.