Effects of Whole-Body Cryostimulation on Pain Management and Disease Activity in Active Rheumatic Polymyalgia: A Case-Report

Abstract

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease among people over 50 and occurs with symptoms such as musculoskeletal pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, and hips. To date, corticosteroids represent the cornerstone of PMR treatment. However, it is well known that their prolonged use is associated with several adverse effects, making it crucial to find therapeutic alternatives. The purpose of this case report was to describe the effectiveness of 10 whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) sessions on a 74-year-old woman suffering from PMR. An improvement in disease impact, fatigue, pain, quality of sleep, and total physical activity was observed after WBC. Moreover, the patient reduced her daily drug intake by 67% following WBC treatments. Given the increasing prevalence of PMR and considering the side effects that drug treatments can lead to, WBC could represent a valuable adjuvant and well-tolerated alternative for treating PMR.

Whole Body Cryostimulation: A New Adjuvant Treatment in Central Sensitization Syndromes? An Expert Opinion

“…A similar trend was reported by Verme et al in a case-report on a 74-year-old woman with polymyalgia rheumatica and a two-year history of widespread pain that defined a CS condition [32]. She underwent a 10-session cycle of WBC as a stand-alone treatment, with long-lasting (6 months) positive effects on disease impact, fatigue, pain, sleep quality, and total physical activity, and a concomitant reduction in pharmacological treatment [32].…”

“…Whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) is a physical treatment based on brief (2–3 min), repeated exposures of the whole body to extremely low temperatures (−110° to −140 °C) in special cryogenic chambers. It has shown rapid anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, pain, and autonomic modulation capacity, and for those reasons it has been used as an adjuvant therapy in several conditions [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Safety of WBC and possible adverse events have recently been reviewed: when accurate medical screening is performed, WBC is a safe, well-tolerated treatment, and reported adverse events are rare [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Whole-Body Cryostimulation in Functional Neurological Disorders: A Case Report

“…An “off-label” use of WBC in different clinical conditions is not novel. Recent studies by our group have demonstrated the positive effects of WBC on the post-COVID-19 condition and polymyalgia rheumatica [ 14 , 17 , 34 ]. These benefits can be attributed to the known effects of WBC on reducing pain, fatigue, and inflammation, and improving mood and sleep quality [ 7 , 8 , 15 , 19 , 35 ].…”

“…Together with the latter, the increase in parasympathetic tone results in reduced fatigue, muscle tension and soreness, improved mood, and symptoms of depression, ultimately leading to a reduction in pain perception [ 12 ]. For all these reasons, cycles of WBC have led to improved rehabilitation outcomes in patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis [ 13 ], post-COVID-19 condition [ 14 ], rheumatoid arthritis [ 15 ], ankylosing spondylitis [ 16 ], polymyalgia rheumatica [ 17 ], and fibromyalgia [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Despite its 40-year-long use worldwide, WBC is associated with rare and mostly transient adverse effects.…”

Whole-Body Cryostimulation in Multiple Sclerosis: A Scoping Review

“…Three main patterns could be described in the clinical evolution of MS: relapsingremitting MS (RRMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), and primary progressive MS rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, ankylosing spondylitis, post-COVID syndrome, obesity, and, of course, multiple sclerosis [44].…”