Exposure to extreme cold may help improve the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia by reducing the pain and musculoskeletal inflammation, according to results of a study published in the medical journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
Whole body cryotherapy is designed to trigger heat stress which will help constrict blood vessels and slow down nerve signals, resulting in pain relief. To better understand the potential benefits of cryotherapy for patients with fibromyalgia, a team led by researchers from the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne in France conducted a randomized controlled trial with 24 patients.
Cryotherapy effective in reducing pain
Patients in the cryotherapy group were exposed to extreme cold for three minutes at less than 110 ° C in a whole body cryotherapy chamber for 10 treatment sessions, over eight days. All sensitive parts of the body, such as the face, ears, feet and hands, have been protected to prevent tissue damage.
All volunteers were asked to complete a questionnaire on their quality of life before the start of treatment and again one month after the last session.
Patients in the cryotherapy group reported significantly improved physical and mental health scores, compared to baseline, or before treatment started.
The average physical score improved from 21.3 to 55.6, and the average mental health score from 30.1 to 60.4, while the control group did not report significant changes.
“With a few sessions of whole-body cryotherapy, rapid improvements have taken place in both the mental and physical dimensions of patients’ quality of life,” the researchers said.
Further studies are needed to assess the long-term benefits of whole body cryotherapy for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Read also:
Cryotherapy or when extreme cold relieves pain
Cryotherapy: what is it for?
Fibromyalgia: what do you know about the disease?
