 HYPERMED WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryotherapy Cryotherapy is the local or general use of low temperatures (-110 to -140 degree Celsius) in medical therapy or the removal of heat (inflammation) from a body part. The term "Cryotherapy" comes from the Greek cryo (κρυο) meaning cold and the word therapy (θεραπεια) meaning cure. It has been around since the 1880-1890s. Cryotherapy goal is to decrease cellular metabolism, increase cellular survival, decrease inflammation (Inflammatory Cytokines and Histamines), decrease pain and spasm, promote vasoconstriction, and when using extreme temperatures, to destroy cells by crystallizing the cytosol.
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Tour de France French team feel the freeze - By Julien Pretot Julien Pretot Wed Jun 15, 8:05 pm ET GRENOBLE, France (Reuters) – 'Spending three minutes in a cubicle at minus 150C is not exactly the kind of thing you dream of doing first thing in the morning, yet riders from the FDJ team will do it every day on the Tour de France. The French cycling team have been experimenting with cryotherapy -- exposure to extreme cold in a cryochamber to help speed recovery ...' History Cryogenic therapyAccording to Costello et al. (2011) [1] a relatively new modality of cryotherapy, called whole body cryotherapy (WBC), is currently being offered by clinicians as an alternative to cold water immersion or ice packs. Administered through the use of a cryogenic chamber, WBC is a treatment whereby the patient is placed in a cryogenic chamber for a short duration (i.e. no more than three minutes, which is comparable to extreme ice swimming). Whole Body Cryotherapy originated in Japan in 1880. However, it was a group of Polish scientists who took the idea and made Whole Body Cryotherapy the physical therapy it is today used mainly for Arthritis, Chronic Pain and a range of Neurologic Disorders including Acute Spinal Cord Injury, Drowning, Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis etc. In the 1960's Russia was using the benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy with Olympic Athletes. Today in the USA Cryotherapy is prominent with Sports Injury Prevention and Recovery being used in conjunction with Hyperbaric Oxygenation. In Australia only a small handful of facilities exist - predominately Footballers and Rugby Players using the benefits to hasten recovery. What Is The Process? The chamber is cooled, typically with liquid nitrogen, to a temperature of −120 to - 140°C (−184 °F). The patient is protected from acute frostbite with socks, gloves and mouth and ear protection, but in addition to that, wears nothing but a bathing suit. The patient spends a few minutes in the chamber. During treatment the average skin temperature drops to 12 °C (54 °F), while the coldest skin temperature can be 5 °C (41 °F). The core body temperature remains unchanged during the treatment, however it may drop slightly afterwards. Therapy triggers the release of endorphins which induce a sense of euphoria, improvement of mood, deep relaxation, and analgesia (immediate pain relief). Patients report that the experience is invigorating and improves a variety of conditions such as psychological stress, insomnia, rheumatism, muscle and joint pain, fibromyalgia, itching, and psoriasis. The immediate effect of skin cooling and analgesia lasts for 5 minutes, but the release of endorphins can have a lasting effect, where the pains and signs of inflammation as found in blood tests remain suppressed for weeks. The effects of extreme cold and endorphin release are widely published however the euphoric feeling you gain with Cryotherapy literally lasts for hours! Athletes using the benefits of Cryotherapy and Hyperbaric Oxygenation before and after a game or sports event often associate the experience with achieving their personal best! What Is A Typical Course Of Cryo Therapy? A course of Cryotherapy is typically between 10-15 sessions to promote worthwhile immune responses i.e. daily for up to 2-weeks and then as directed. For the ongoing benefits of Well Being Cryotherapy; recommendation is typically 2-consecutive days i.e. back to back days at interval every several weeks or months as directed. The average price is between $75-85 for a 3-minute session.
The influence of whole body cryotherapy on mental health SourceInstytutu Rehabilitacji AWF we Wrocławiu. AbstractThe paper presents a little known issue about the influence of wholebody cryotherapy on mental health. Observations of patients' behaviour after passing the cryogenic chamber leads to an interesting hypothesis. Short exposition to extreme cold has doubtless a profitable influence on man's frame of mind. Immediately after passing the cryogenic chamber, apart from the well known analgetic effect, we detect changes in patients' mental state such as improvement of mood, deep relaxation, freshening up, consolation, euphoria. This unusual state lasts for a long time after ending the cycle of cryotherapy. | Cryotherapy decreases histamine levels in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis SourceDepartment of Biochemistry, Institute of Rheumatology, Warsaw, Poland. biochemia@ir.ids.pl AbstractINTRODUCTION: Conventional physiotherapy (electrotherapy, magnetic fields), kinesitherapy, and whole-body cryotherapy (plus kinesitherapy) are used to relieve pain and inflammation or to improve function in rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different physiotherapies and cryotherapy on biochemical blood parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with RA and 17 patients with OA received whole-body cryotherapy at -140 to -160 degrees C for 2 to 3 min, once daily for 4 weeks. The second group of patients (24 with RA and 28 with OA) received conventional physiotherapy for 4 weeks. We measured the parameters of neutrophil activation (respiratory burst, calprotectin) and markers of cartilage metabolism [N-acetyl-beta-D-hexosaminidase (NAHase), ectonucleotide pyrophosphohydrolase (NTPPHase)] twice: before and 3 months after cryotherapy or physiotherapy. RESULTS: We showed, for the first time, that cryotherapy significantly reduced (P < 0.001) histamine levels in the blood of patients with RA. The effect was long-lasting (for at least 3 months). The levels of blood histamine in patients with OA were not changed significantly. Cryotherapy also downregulated the respiratory burst of PMNs and NAHase activity and upregulated calprotectin levels and the activity of NTPPHase. However, these changes were not statistically significant. In contrast, there were no significant changes in histamine levels or the other biochemical parameters measured in groups of patients treated only with physiotherapy and kinesitherapy. CONCLUSION: It may be concluded that the beneficial clinical effects of cryotherapy in RA patients are in part due to the action on the production, release, or degradation of histamine. | Sports Med. 2010 Jun 1;40(6):509-17. Whole-body cryotherapy in athletes BanfiG, Lombardi G, ColombiniA, MelegatiG. IRCCS Galeazzi, School of Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. giuseppebanfi@supereva.it Abstract Cold therapy is commonly used as a procedure to relieve pain symptoms, particularly in inflammatory diseases, injuries and overuse symptoms. A peculiar form of cold therapy (or stimulation) was proposed 30 years ago for the treatment of rheumatic diseases. The therapy, called whole-body cryotherapy(WBC), consists of exposure to very cold air that is maintained at -110 degrees C to -140 degrees C in special temperature-controlled cryochambers, generally for 2 minutes. WBC is used to relieve pain and inflammatory symptoms caused by numerous disorders, particularly those associated with rheumatic conditions, and is recommended for the treatment of arthritis, fibromyalgia and ankylosingspondylitis. In sports medicine, WBC has gained wider acceptance as a method to improve recovery from muscle injury. Unfortunately, there are few papers concerning the application of the treatment on athletes. The study of possible enhancement of recovery from injuries and possible modification of physiological parameters, taking into consideration the limits imposed by antidopingrules, is crucial for athletes and sports physicians for judging the real benefits and/or limits of WBC. According to the available literature, WBC is not harmful or detrimental in healthy subjects. The treatment does not enhance bone marrow production and could reduce the sport-induced haemolysis. WBC induces oxidative stress, but at a low level. Repeated treatments are apparently not able to induce cumulative effects; on the contrary, adaptive changes on antioxidant status are elicited--the adaptation is evident where WBC precedes or accompanies intense training. WBC is not characterized by modifications of immunological markers and leukocytes, and it seems to not be harmful to the immunological system. The WBC effect is probably linked to the modifications of immunological molecules having paracrine effects, and not to systemic immunological functions. In fact, there is an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, and a decrease in proinflammatorycytokine IL-2 and chemokineIL-8. Moreover, the decrease in intercellular adhesion molecule-1 supported the anti-inflammatory response. Lysosomalmembranes are stabilized by WBC, reducing potential negative effects on proteins of lysosomalenzymes. The cold stimulation shows positive effects on the muscular enzymes creatinekinaseand lactate dehydrogenase, and it should be considered a procedure that facilitates athletes' recovery. Cardiac markers troponinI and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, parameters linked to damage and necrosis of cardiac muscular tissue, but also to tissue repair, were unchanged, demonstrating that there was no damage, even minimal, in the heart during the treatment. N-Terminal pro B-type natriureticpeptide (NT-proBNP), a parameter linked to heart failure and ventricular power decrease, showed an increase, due to cold stress. However, the NT-proBNPconcentrations observed after WBC were lower than those measured after a heavy training session, suggesting that the treatment limits the increase of the parameter that is typical of physical exercise. WBC did not stimulate the pituitary-adrenal cortex axis: the hormonal modifications are linked mainly to the body's adaptation to the stress, shown by an increase of oradrenaline(norepinephrine). We conclude that WBC is not harmful and does not induce general or specific negative effects in athletes. The treatment does not induce modifications of biochemical and haematologicalparameters, which could be suspected in athletes who may be cheating. | Serial whole-body cryotherapy in the criostream for inflammatory rheumatic diseases. A pilot study SourceAbteilung Rheumatologie, Klinische Immunologie, Physikalische Medizin und Osteologie (Innere Medizin mit Schwerpunkt Rheumatologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen), Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim. U.Lange@kerckhoff-klinik.de AbstractBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Local as well as whole-body cryotherapy is used to relieve pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases. In comparison with a chamber-based whole-body cryotherapy, the novel criostream whole-body therapy (single-person cabin with cold air cooled by liquid nitrogen) as an innovative technique offers not only a rapid therapeutic effect but also a considerable reduction in costs. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of whole-body cryotherapy in the criostream on pain reduction, disease activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-[TNF-]alpha and interleukin-[IL-]1), and improvement in functional scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with different active inflammatory rheumatic diseases (four patients with rheumatoid arthritis, three patients with ankylosing spondylitis, and three patients with psoriatic arthritis/spondylitis) underwent nine sessions of whole-body cryotherapy in 5 days for a short time period (at first 90 s, with step-up in each application to 2.5 min total time). RESULTS: Pain and disease activity scores decreased significantly, and, subsequently, also the functional scores showed a significant amelioration. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in TNF-alpha (p < 0.01) and IL-1 (p < 0.05). Side effects were reported only after the first application in two cases (headache and sensation of cold). | Systemic and immunomodulatory effects of whole body therapeutic hypothermia SourceSemmelweis Egyetem, Általános Orvostudományi Kar I. Gyermekgyógyászati Klinika Budapest Bókay u. 53-54. 1083. AbstractSeveral neurobiological mechanisms contribute to the development of ischemic-reperfusion damage of the central nervous system that may be modulated by hypothermia. Nowadays hypothermia is a therapeutic tool for the treatment of stroke and perinatal asphyxia. Hypothermia does not only affect the central nervous system, but also has systemic effects. It influences the muscular and cardiovascular system, the systematic metabolism, induces electrolyte changes, and decreases inflammation. This review summarizes the effects of therapeutic hypothermia on the immune system. Experiments on cell lines and in animals along with human experience indicate that short term (2-4 hours) hypothermia increases the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and decreases that of proinflammatory cytokines. Long term (>24 hours) hypothermia, however, increases proinflammatory cytokine levels. Furthermore, hypothermia inhibits lymphocyte proliferation and decreases HLA-DR expression associated with cell activation. These results suggest that therapeutic hypothermia has a systemic immunomodulatory effect. Further research is required to determine the contribution of immunomodulation to the defense of the central nervous system. | Therapeutic hypothermia in acute stroke. SourceAdvocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA. Lklassman@aol.com AbstractTreatment of acute stroke is difficult due to the complexity of events triggered by ischemic insult. Current reperfusion strategies are time limited and, alone, may not be sufficient to achieve maximal neurologic outcomes. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) appears to be a promising neuroprotective therapy, as it affects a wide range of destructive mechanisms occurring in ischemic brain tissue. Animal research has substantiated the use of TH in acute stroke. Human studies utilizing TH in acute stroke have shown trends toward positive effects; however, there have been a variety of measurements and methods making comparisons difficult. The ideal protocol for the use of TH in stroke has not yet been developed and requires determination of optimal depth, duration, and methods of temperature measurement and cooling for acute stroke. The purposes of this article were to (1) discuss the effects of ischemia and reperfusion in acute stroke, (2) discuss how TH can potentially limit neurological injury, and (3) review current literature on the use of hypothermia as a treatment for acute stroke. | Brain cooling-stimulated angiogenesis and neurogenesis attenuated traumatic brain injury in rats. SourceInstitute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. AbstractBACKGROUND: Although brain cooling has been reported to be effective in improving the outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats, the mechanisms of brain cooling-induced neuroprotective actions remain unclear. This study was to test whether angiogenesis and neurogenesis attenuating TBI could be brain cooling stimulated. METHODS: Anesthetized rats, immediately after the onset of TBI, were divided into two groups and given the brain cooling (infusing 5 mL of 4°C saline via the external jugular vein) or no brain cooling (infusing 5 mL of 37°C saline via the external jugular vein). RESULTS: Brain cooling without interference with the core temperature in rats significantly attenuated TBI-induced cerebral infarction (90 mmł vs. 250 mmł) and motor (61 degrees vs. 57 degrees maximal angle) and proprioceptive (14% vs. 42% maximal possible effect) function deficits, significantly reduced TBI-induced neuronal (24 vs. 62 neuronal-specific nuclear [NeuN]-TUNEL double-positive cells) and glial (5 vs. 35 GFAP-TUNEL double-positive cells) apoptosis (increased TUNEL-positive and caspase-3-positive cells), neuronal loss (102 vs. 66 NeuN-positive cells), and gliosis (40 vs. 66 GFAP-positive cells; 66 vs. 89 Iba1-positive cells), and significantly promoted angiogenesis (5-bromodeoxyuridine [BrdU]/endothelial cells vs. 1-BrdU/endothelial cell; 58 vs. 31 vascular endothelial growth factor-positive cells), and neurogenesis (33 vs. 14 BrdU/NeuN positive cells). CONCLUSIONS: Brain cooling-stimulated angiogenesis and neurogenesis attenuated a fluid percussion TBI in rats. | Effects of the whole-body cryotherapy on a total antioxidative status and activities of some antioxidative enzymes in blood of patients with multiple sclerosis-preliminary study. SourceRehabilitation Ward, III General Hospital in Lódz, Poland. AbstractOBJECTIVE: There is evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) is not only characterized by immune mediated inflammatory reactions but also by neurodegenerative processes. Neutralization of oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, might represent a therapeutic approach to provide neuroprotection in MS. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in total antioxidative status and activities of chosen antioxidative enzymes, such as: SOD, CAT in erythrocytes of patients with MS before and after using WBCT with control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 32 patients with multiple sclerosis (ICD10-G35) and 20 healthy subjects were recruited for the study. The examined MS group (n=16) was treated with a series of 10 daily exposures in a cryogenic chamber (2-3 min, from -120 degrees C to -110 degrees C) and program of exercises. The control MS group (n=16) had only exercises. Plasma TAS as well as SOD and CAT activities in erythrocytes were measured. RESULTS: The level of TAS in MS patients was distinctly reduced compared to healthy subjects. After two weeks of WBCT treatment an increase of TAS in the whole examined group (p>0.01) were observed in relation to control MS group. There was not increase of CuZnSOD and CAT activities. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest positive antioxidant effects of WBCT as a short-term adjuvant treatment for patients suffered due to MS. | The dual role of the neuroinflammatory response after ischemic stroke: modulatory effects of hypothermia. SourceDepartment of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Drug Analysis, Research Group Experimental Neuropharmacology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090 Brussels, Belgium. AbstractNeuroinflammation is a key element in the ischemic cascade after cerebral ischemia that results in cell damage and death in the subacute phase. However, anti-inflammatory drugs do not improve outcome in clinical settings suggesting that the neuroinflammatory response after an ischemic stroke is not entirely detrimental. This review describes the different key players in neuroinflammation and their possible detrimental and protective effects in stroke. Because of its inhibitory influence on several pathways of the ischemic cascade, hypothermia has been introduced as a promising neuroprotective strategy. This review also discusses the influence of hypothermia on the neuroinflammatory response. We conclude that hypothermia exerts both stimulating and inhibiting effects on different aspects of neuroinflammation and hypothesize that these effects are key to neuroprotection. | Pain in the elderly: Prospective study of hyperbaric CO2 cryotherapy (neurocryostimulation) SourceGeriatrics Department 4, Emile Roux Hospital, Limeil-Brévannes 94450, France. chatap.guy@wanadoo.fr AbstractOBJECTIVE: To evaluate the analgesic effects of hyperbaric CO(2) cryotherapy in elderly inpatients. METHODS: An open-label prospective study was conducted in two geriatrics departments in patients with a broad range of pain characteristics. Each patient underwent a physical evaluation followed by hyperbaric CO(2) cryotherapy sessions, whose spacing and number were at the discretion of the physiotherapist. Patients completed a 100-mm visual analog scale for pain severity before and after the sessions. RESULTS: We included 51 patients, who were treated between May 2 and June 30, 2005. Mean age was 83.7years, and the female-to-male ratio was 4/1. The patients had acute or chronic pain whose origin was usually musculoskeletal (80.3%) or neurological (18.6%). Pain scores decreased significantly after four sessions, from 52mm to 13mm (P<0.001) in patients with acute pain and from 45mm to 13mm (P<0.001) in those with chronic pain. CONCLUSION: Hyperbaric CO(2) cryotherapy is an innovative tool that should be incorporated within the non-pharmacological armamentarium for achieving pain relief in older patients. | Combinatorial techniques for enhancing neuroprotection: hypothermia and alkalinization. SourceInstitute of Neurobiology, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan. dkuffler@hotmail.com AbstractBrain and spinal cord (CNS) trauma typically kill a number of neurons, but even more neurons are killed by secondary causes triggered by the initial trauma. Thus, a minor insult may rapidly cause the death of a vastly larger number of neurons and complete paralysis. The best mechanism for reducing the extent of neurological deficits is to minimize the number of neurons killed by post-trauma sequelae. Neuroprotection techniques take many diverse forms with a breadth too great for a short review. Therefore, this review focuses on the neuroprotection provided by hypothermia and a number of other neuroprotective techniques, when administered singly or in combination, because it is generally found that combinations of applications lead to significantly better neuroprotection than is achieved by any one alone. The combinatorial approach to neuroprotection holds great promise for enhancing the degree of neuroprotection following trauma, leading to maximum maintenance of neurological function. | The effect of prolonged whole-body cryostimulation treatment with different amounts of sessions on chosen pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels in healthy men. SourceDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Szczecin University, Szczecin, Poland. AbstractAbstract Cryotherapy is used in the early treatment of acute injuries (sprains, strains, fractures) yet only a few papers discuss the possible influence of whole-body cryostimulation on inflammation mechanisms or immunology. It is postulated that cold exposure can have an immunostimulating effect related to enhanced noradrenaline response and can be connected with paracrine effects. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different sequences of whole-body cryostimulations on the level of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in healthy individuals. The research involved 45 healthy men divided into three groups. The groups were subjected to 5, 10 or 20, 3-minute long whole-body cryostimulations each day at -130°C. Blood was collected for analysis before the stimulations, after completion of the whole series, and 2 weeks after completion of the series, for the examination of any long-term effect. The analysis of results showed that in response to cryostimulation, the level of ani-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 increased while Il-1α cytokine level decreased. It seems that the most advantageous sequence was the series of 20 cryostimulations due to the longest lasting effects of stimulation after the completion of the whole series of treatments. | Systemic hypothermia for the treatment of acute cervical spinal cord injury in sports. SourceThe Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA. ddietrich@miami.edu AbstractSpinal cord injury is a devastating condition that affects approximately 12,000 patients each year in the United States. Major causes for spinal cord injury include motor vehicle accidents, sports-related injuries, and direct trauma. Moderate hypothermia has gained attention as a potential therapy due to recent experimental and clinical studies and the use of modest systemic hypothermia (MSH) in high profile case of spinal cord injury in a National Football League (NFL) player. In experimental models of spinal cord injury, moderate hypothermia has been shown to improve functional recovery and reduce overall structural damage. In a recent Phase I clinical trial, systemic hypothermia has been shown to be safe and provide some encouraging results in terms of functional recovery. This review will summarize recent preclinical data, as well as clinical findings that support the continued investigations for the use of hypothermia in severe cervical spinal cord injury. | Combined hyperbaric oxygen and hypothermia treatment on oxidative stress parameters after spinal cord injury: an experimental study. SourceDepartment of Neurosurgery, Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Istanbul, Turkey. AbstractBACKGROUND AND AIMS: We undertook this study to investigate the possible beneficial effects of combined hypothermia and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment in comparison with methylprednisolone in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Forty eight male Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were randomized into six groups; A (normothermic control group; only laminectomy), B (normothermic trauma group; laminectomy + spinal trauma), C (normothermic methylprednisolone group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + methylprednisolone treated), D (hypothermia group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + hypothermia treated); E (HBO group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + HBO therapy), F (hypothermia and HBO group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + hypothermia and HBO treated) each containing eight rats. Neurological assessments were performed 24 h after trauma and spinal cord tissue samples had been harvested for both biochemical and histopathological evaluation. RESULTS: After SCI, tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) level of the control group was measured increased, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities were measured decreased. In group F, it was also shown that MDA level elevation had been prevented, and group F has increased the antioxidant enzyme activities than the other experimental groups C, D, E (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that the use of combined hypothermia and HBO treatment might have potential benefits in spinal cord tissue on secondary damage | Treatment of spinal cord injury by mild hypothermia combined with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplantation in rats SourceDepartment of Neurosurgery, Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300140, P R China. wd5609@hotmail.com AbstractOBJECTIVE: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) play an important role in repairing nerve injury, meanwhile external temperature has significant effect on BMSCs transplantation, proliferation, and differentiation. To investigate the effect of BMSCs transplantation and mild hypothermia on repair of rat spinal cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Forty-five female adult SD rats (weighing 200-250 g) were made the models of hemitransection SCI and divided randomly into 3 groups according to different treatments: group A (SCI group), group B (BMSCs transplantation group), and group C [BMSCs transplantation combined with mild hypothermia (33-35 degrees C) group]. At 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after injury, the function of hind limb was evaluated with Basso Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) score and inclined plane test. At 4 weeks after injury, histopathology and BrdU immunohistochemistry staining were performed. At 8 weeks after injury, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) retrograde nerve trace and transmission electron microscope (TEM) testing were performed to observe the regeneration of axon. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, the function of hind limb obviously recovered in groups B and C, there were significant differences in BBB score between groups B, C and group A (P < 0.05), between group B and group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in tilt angle among 3 groups after 1 and 2 weeks, and there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among 3 groups after 4 weeks. HE staining showed that significant cavity could be seen in group A, little in group B, and no cavity in group C. BrdU immunohistochemistry staining showed that the number of positive cells was 0, 90.54 +/- 6.23, and 121.22 +/- 7.54 in groups A, B, and C, respectively; showing significant differences (P < 0.01) among 3 groups. HRP retrograde neural tracing observation showed that the number of HRP positive nerve fibers was 10.35 +/- 1.72, 43.25 +/- 2.65, and 84.37 +/- 4.59 in groups A, B, and C, respectively, showing significant differences (P < 0.01) among 3 groups. TEM observation showed that a great amount of unmyelinated nerve fibers and myelinated nerve fibers were found in central transverse plane in group C. CONCLUSION: The BMSCs transplantation play an important role in promotion of recovering the function of hind limb after SCI, and mild hypothermia has synergism effects. | Therapeutic hypothermia in acute stroke. SourceAdvocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA. Lklassman@aol.com AbstractTreatment of acute stroke is difficult due to the complexity of events triggered by ischemic insult. Current reperfusion strategies are time limited and, alone, may not be sufficient to achieve maximal neurologic outcomes. Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) appears to be a promising neuroprotective therapy, as it affects a wide range of destructive mechanisms occurring in ischemic brain tissue. Animal research has substantiated the use of TH in acute stroke. Human studies utilizing TH in acute stroke have shown trends toward positive effects; however, there have been a variety of measurements and methods making comparisons difficult. The ideal protocol for the use of TH in stroke has not yet been developed and requires determination of optimal depth, duration, and methods of temperature measurement and cooling for acute stroke. The purposes of this article were to (1) discuss the effects of ischemia and reperfusion in acute stroke, (2) discuss how TH can potentially limit neurological injury, and (3) review current literature on the use of hypothermia as a treatment for acute stroke. | Effects of whole-body cryotherapy (-110 °C) on proprioception and indices of muscle damage. SourceDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland. AbstractThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on proprioceptive function, muscle force recovery following eccentric muscle contractions and tympanic temperature (T(TY) ). Thirty-six subjects were randomly assigned to a group receiving two 3-min treatments of -110 ± 3 °C or 15 ± 3 °C. Knee joint position sense (JPS), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the knee extensors, force proprioception and T(TY) were recorded before, immediately after the exposure and again 15 min later. A convenience sample of 18 subjects also underwent an eccentric exercise protocol on their contralateral left leg 24 h before exposure. MVIC (left knee), peak power output (PPO) during a repeated sprint on a cycle ergometer and muscles soreness were measured pre-, 24, 48 and 72h post-treatment. WBC reduced T(TY) , by 0.3 °C, when compared with the control group (P<0.001). However, JPS, MVIC or force proprioception was not affected. Similarly, WBC did not effect MVIC, PPO or muscle soreness following eccentric exercise. WBC, administered 24 h after eccentric exercise, is ineffective in alleviating muscle soreness or enhancing muscle force recovery. The results of this study also indicate no increased risk of proprioceptive-related injury following WBC. | J Clin Nurs. 2011 Feb 20. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2010.03531.x. [Epub ahead of print] The effects of cryotherapy in relieving postarthroscopy pain. SourceAuthors: Li Fang, MSN, RN, Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Meiho University, Pingtung and Doctoral Student, School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung; Chich-Hsiu Hung, PhD, RN, Professor, School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung; Shang-Liang Wu, Dr PH, Research Fellow, Taiwan Research Association of Health Care, Taipei; Shu-Hui Fang, MSE, Senior Instructor, Language Education Center, Fooyin University, Daliao, Kaohsiung County; Joel Stocker, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. AbstractAim. The aim of this study was to examine whether the application of cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag is effective in reducing the severity of wound pain after arthroscopy. Background. In most studies, analgesic medication were administered prior to surgery; postoperative pain may be reduced by analgesics, but they are known to confound the effects of cryotherapy. Cryotherapy by Cryocuff system has commonly been used to manage post arthroscopy patients' pain. Few studies have tested the effects of cryotherapy by simply applying ice in a plastic bag to relieve postarthroscopy pain. Design. This was a prospective, double-blinded, quasi-experimental study with two groups, interrupted time-series design and multiple treatment replications. Method. Fifty-nine patients who received arthroscopy between July-August 2007 were assigned to receive cryotherapy (the experimental group, 33 people) or no cryotherapy (the control group, 26 people). For the experimental group, three 10-minute sessions of ice packing were conducted over a three-hour period, with 50-minute intervals between each session. The first session of ice packing was applied immediately after recovery from anaesthesia. Results. Cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag was shown to be effective in lessening the degree of pain in postarthroscopy patients. The pain score of the experimental group decreased from 5·12-1·82 after cryotherapy, representing a significant decrease, while the pain score in the control group decreased from 4·04-2·88 (p = 0·047, 0·012 and 0·005). Conclusions. Cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag can be applied in standard protocols for patients who have just undergone arthroscopic surgery. Relevance to clinical practice. Cryotherapy with ice in a plastic bag is a simple, readily attainable and cost-effective technique for relieving postarthroscopy pain. We recommend that it be included in standard treatment protocols. Techniques for cryotherapy should be incorporated into in-service education. | Strategies to improve post-stroke behavioral recovery in aged subjects SourceDepartment of Neurology, University of Greifswald, Germany. AbstractOld age is associated with an enhanced susceptibility to stroke and poor recovery from brain injury. Therefore, find therapeutic strategies aimed at improving functional recovery after brain ischemia in aged subjects is of considerable clinical interest. While environmental enrichment has been shown to improve the behavioral outcome of stroke in young animals, the effect of an enriched environment, hypothermia and Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF) on behavioral and neuropathological recovery in aged animals is not known. Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery in 3-month- and 20-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. The functional outcome was assessed in neurobehavioral tests conducted over a period of 14-28 days following surgery. Brain tissue then was immunostained for proliferating astrocytes and the infarct and scar tissue volumes were measured. Aged rats showed more severe behavioral impairments and diminished functional recovery compared to young rats. Most infarcted animals had disturbances of sensorimotor function, with recovery beginning later, progressing more slowly, and reaching a lower functional endpoint in aged animals. However, the enriched environment significantly improved the rate and extent of recovery in aged animals. Correlation analysis revealed that the beneficial effect of the enriched environment on recovery, both in young and aged rats, correlated highly with a reduction in infarct size, in the number of proliferating astrocytes, and in the volume of the glial scar. These results suggest that temporally modulating astrocytic proliferation and the ensuing scar formation might be a fruitful approach to improving functional recovery after stroke in aged rats. In aged humans, stroke is a major cause of disability for which no neuroprotective measures are available. A viable alternative to conventional drug-based neuroprotective therapies is brain/body cooling, or hypothermia. In animal studies of focal ischemia, short-term hypothermia consistently reduces infarct size. Nevertheless, efficient neuroprotection requires long-term, regulated lowering of whole body temperature. In this study, we show that two days post-stroke exposure of aged rats to a mixture of air and a mild inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, H2S, causes deep hypothermia (27.8+/-0.3 degrees C) and a 50% reduction in infarct size without obvious neurological deficits or physiological side effects. G-CSF treatment after stroke exerted a robust and sustained beneficial effect on survival rate and running function. Transient improvement after G-CSF treatment could be observed for coordinative motor function on the inclined plane test and for working memory in the radial maze test. At cellular level, G-CSF treatment increased the number of proliferating cells in the SVZ and the dentate gyrus and increased the number of newborn neurons in the SVZ, ipsilateral to the lesion. These results suggests that the G-CSF treatment in aged rats has a survival enhancing capacity and a beneficial effect on functional outcome most likely via supportive cellular processes such as neurogenesis. Conclusions: These findings are important for the further clinical development of the drug in elderly stroke patients. Future studies should focus on an optimization of treatment schedule to achieve a maximum of post-stroke recovery enhancement in aged subjects. | Serial whole-body cryotherapy in the criostream for inflammatory rheumatic diseases. A pilot study SourceAbteilung Rheumatologie, Klinische Immunologie, Physikalische Medizin und Osteologie (Innere Medizin mit Schwerpunkt Rheumatologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen), Kerckhoff-Klinik, Bad Nauheim. U.Lange@kerckhoff-klinik.de AbstractBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Local as well as whole-body cryotherapy is used to relieve pain and inflammation in rheumatic diseases. In comparison with a chamber-based whole-body cryotherapy, the novel criostream whole-body therapy (single-person cabin with cold air cooled by liquid nitrogen) as an innovative technique offers not only a rapid therapeutic effect but also a considerable reduction in costs. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of whole-body cryotherapy in the criostream on pain reduction, disease activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-[TNF-]alpha and interleukin-[IL-]1), and improvement in functional scores. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with different active inflammatory rheumatic diseases (four patients with rheumatoid arthritis, three patients with ankylosing spondylitis, and three patients with psoriatic arthritis/spondylitis) underwent nine sessions of whole-body cryotherapy in 5 days for a short time period (at first 90 s, with step-up in each application to 2.5 min total time). RESULTS: Pain and disease activity scores decreased significantly, and, subsequently, also the functional scores showed a significant amelioration. Furthermore, there was a significant reduction in TNF-alpha (p < 0.01) and IL-1 (p < 0.05). Side effects were reported only after the first application in two cases (headache and sensation of cold). CONCLUSION: The criostream offers an elegant and, from the patient's point of view, attractive therapeutic agent in the multimodal treatment concept for inflammatory rheumatic diseases. | Long-term hypothermia reduces infarct volume in aged rats after focal ischemia SourceDepartment of Neurology, University of Greifswald, Ellernholzstr. 1-2, 17487 Greifswald, Germany. AbstractIn aged humans, stroke is a major cause of disability for which no neuroprotective measures are available. A viable alternative to conventional drug-based neuroprotective therapies is brain/body cooling, or hypothermia. In animal studies of focal ischemia, short-term hypothermia consistently reduces infarct size. Nevertheless, efficient neuroprotection requires long-term, regulated lowering of whole body temperature. Focal cerebral ischemia was produced by reversible occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery in 17-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. After stroke, the aged rats were exposed for 2 days to a mixture of air and a mild inhibitor of oxidative phosphorylation, hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S), which resulted in sustained, deep hypothermia (30.8+/-0.7 degrees C). Long-term hypothermia led to a 50% reduction in infarct size with a concomitant reduction in the number of phagocytic cells. At the transcription level, hypothermia caused a reduction in the mRNA coding for caspase 12, NF-kappa B and grp78 in the peri-infarcted region, suggesting an overall decrease in the transcriptional activity related to inflammation and apoptosis. Behaviorally, hypothermia was associated with better performance on tests that require complex sensorimotor skills, in the absence of obvious neurological deficits or physiological side effects, in aged rats. Conclusions: Prolonged, H(2)S-induced hypothermia is a simple and efficacious method to limit the damage inflicted by stroke in aged rats. | Can short-term exposure to extremely low temperatures be used as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of affective and anxiety disorders? SourceKatedra i Klinika Psychiatrii AM we Wrocławiu. AbstractAIM: The aim of the research was to assess the effect of whole-body cryotherapy (WBCT) on the symptoms observed in a group of patients suffering from affective and anxiety disorders and their own subjective assessment of life satisfaction. METHOD: The study group was given short-term exposure (120-180 sec.) to temperatures between -110 degrees C and -160 degrees C on each working day for a period of 3 weeks (a total of 15 treatments). Both the study group (n=26) and control group (n=34) were observed at the beginning and the end of this 3 week interval. Standard psychopharmacological treatment was carried out in both groups, independently of whether cryotherapy was used or not. Hamilton's scales of depression and anxiety were used, together with the life satisfaction scale. RESULTS: A statistically significant larger improvement, together with a better mean state after 3 weeks, was observed with respect to 11 of the 14 components of the anxiety scale in the study group compared to the control group (except symptoms associated with the gastrointestinal and genitourinary symptoms and behaviour at interview). A larger improvement, together with a better mean state after 3 weeks, was observed with respect to 12 of the 16 components of the depression scale (except digestive, sexual life hypochondria, body weight and criticism) and 6 of the 11 components of the life satisfaction scale (physical well-being, physical condition, domestic activity, professional activity, personal interests and general satisfaction from life) in the study group. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclic short-term whole-body exposition to extremely low temperatures significantly reduced the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and increased the life satisfaction. | Effect of whole body cryotherapy on the levels of some hormones in professional soccer players SourceKatedra i Zakład Fizjologii, Slaska Akademia Medyczna w Katowicach, Wydział Lekarski w Zabrzu, Zabrze. ilona.korzonek@vp.pl AbstractINTRODUCTION: The study was undertaken to determine blood serum concentrations of selected steroid hormones (estradiol--E(2), testosterone--T, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate--DHEA-S) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in professional footballers subjected to whole body cryotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two clinically healthy males, mean age 26.7 years, were studied. The subjects underwent ten sessions of whole body cryotherapy in Wroclaw-type chamber, with kinesitherapy following each session. Blood samples were collected before and two days after the treatment and the results were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: After the treatment there was a significant decrease in the concentrations of T (6.01 vs. 4.80 ng/mL, p < 0.01) and E(2) (102.3 vs. 47.5 pg/mL, p < 0.00001), but no DHEA-S and LH. The T/E(2) ratio showed a significant increase form 72.2 to 136.5 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Whole body cryotherapy leads to a significant decrease in serum T and E(2), with no effect on LH and DHEAS levels. As a results of cryotherapy, the T/E(2) ratio was significant increased. The changes observed are probably due to cryotherapy-induced alternation in the blood supply to the skin and subcutaneous tissue, as well as to modulation of the activity of aromatase which is responsible for conversion of testosterone and androstenedione to estrogens. | Physical modalities in chronic pain management SourceDepartment of Nursing Services and Patient Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, T-150 GH, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA. barbara-rakel@uiowa.edu AbstractThe following conclusions can be made based on review of the evidence: There is limited but positive evidence that select physical modalities are effective in managing chronic pain associated with specific conditions experienced by adults and older individuals. Overall, studies have provided the most support for the modality of therapeutic exercise. Different physical modalities have similar magnitudes of effects on chronic pain. Therefore, selection of the most appropriate physical modality may depend on the desired functional outcome for the patient, the underlying impairment, and the patient's preference or prior experience with the modality. Certain patient characteristics may decrease the effectiveness of physical modalities, as has been seen with TENS. These characteristics include depression, high trait anxiety, a powerful others locus of control, obesity, narcotic use, and neuroticism. The effect on pain by various modalities is generally strongest in the short-term period immediately after the intervention series, but effects can last as long as 1 year after treatment (e.g., with massage). Most research has tested the effect of physical modalities on chronic low back pain and knee OA. The effectiveness of physical modalities for other chronic pain conditions needs to be evaluated more completely. Older and younger adults often experience similar effects on their perception of pain from treatment with physical modalities. Therefore, use of these modalities for chronic pain in older adults is appropriate, but special precautions need to be taken. Practitioners applying physical modalities need formal training that includes the risks and precautions for these modalities. If practitioners lack formal training in the use of physical modalities, or if modality use is not within their scope of practice, it is important to consult with and refer patients to members of the team who have this specialized training. Use of a multidisciplinary approach to chronic pain management is of value for all adults and older individuals in particular [79-81]. Historically, physical therapists have been trained to evaluate and treat patients with the range of physical modalities discussed in this article. Although members of the nursing staff traditionally have used some of these modalities (e.g. some forms of heat or cold and massage), increasing numbers of nurses now are being trained to apply more specialized procedures (e.g., TENS). Healthcare professionals must be knowledgeable about the strength of evidence underlying the use of physical modalities for the management of chronic pain. Based on the limited research evidence available (especially related to assistive devices, orthotics, and thermal modalities), it often is difficult to accept or exclude select modalities as having a potential role in chronic pain management for adults and older individuals. Improved research methodologies are needed to address physical modality effectiveness better. | The influence of whole body cryotherapy on mental health SourceInstytutu Rehabilitacji AWF we Wrocławiu. AbstractThe paper presents a little known issue about the influence of wholebody cryotherapy on mental health. Observations of patients' behaviour after passing the cryogenic chamber leads to an interesting hypothesis. Short exposition to extreme cold has doubtless a profitable influence on man's frame of mind. Immediately after passing the cryogenic chamber, apart from the well known analgetic effect, we detect changes in patients' mental state such as improvement of mood, deep relaxation, freshening up, consolation, euphoria. This unusual state lasts for a long time after ending the cycle of cryotherapy. Different mechanisms of this effect are considered. New possibilities of this method have been presented. Durability of such an advantageous phenomenon are investigated in our research centre in Wrocław. | Cryotherapy in osteoporosis AbstractCryotherapy is use of temperature lower than -100 degrees C onto body surface, for 2-3 minutes, in aim to cause physiological reactions for cold and to use such adapting reactions. Organism's positive response to cryotherapy supports treatment of basic disease and facilitates kinesitherapy. Low temperature may be obtained by use of air flow cooled with liquid nitrogen; this could be applied either locally, over chosen part of the body, or generally, over the whole body, in cryosauna or in cryochamber. The most efficiently is applying cryotherapy twice a day, with at least 3 hours interval. Kinesitherapy is necessarily used after each cryotherapy session. Whole treatment takes 2 to 6 weeks, depending on patient's needs. Cryotherapy reduces pain and swellings, causes skeletal muscles relaxation and increase of their force, also, motion range in treated joints increases. Thus, cryotherapy seems to fulfill all necessary conditions for rehabilitation in osteoporosis. Cryotherapy represents numerous advantages: it takes short time for applying, being well tolerated by patient, also patient's status improves quickly. In addition, contraindications against cryotherapy are rare. All this makes cryotherapy a method for a broad use in prophylactics and treatment of osteoporosis. | Effects of induced hypothermia on somatosensory evoked potentials in patients with chronic spinal cord injury. SourceDepartment of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada. AbstractWe have investigated the effects of mild whole body hypothermia on the amplitude and latency of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in control subjects (n = 12) and patients (n = 15) with chronic compressive or contusive spinal cord injury (SCI). Mild hypothermia (-1 degree C) was induced by controlled circulation of propylene glycol through a 'microclimate' head and vest garment while reductions in oral and limb temperatures were monitored. Cooling induced a delayed onset and reduced amplitude of tibial nerve SEPs in control subjects. All SCI patients with recordable SEPs (n = 11) showed similarly delayed onset of the cortical response. In contrast to the controls, nine of the 11 SCI patients showed an increase in amplitude of cortical SEPs. In three of these patients the increase in amplitude exceeded 100% of the precooling values. The cooling-induced changes in SEP amplitude and latency reversed on rewarming for both groups. The cooling-induced increases in cortical SEP amplitude support the a priori hypothesis that cooling would enhance central conduction in some SCI patients with conduction deficits due to focal demyelination. |
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