The Assessment of the Effect of the Whole-Body Cryotherapy on the Functional Status of Patients With Lumbar Spine Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Aim: To assess the effect of the whole-body cryotherapy on everyday functioning and the severity of pain of patients diagnosed with lumbar spine osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods: The study included 100 patients with osteoarthritis who underwent a course of a series of 10 treatments of the whole-body cryotherapy in cryogenic chamber. The Visual Analogue Scale and the Revised Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Scale were used to assess the effectiveness of the therapy. The mobility of the spine was examined using the Thomayer test and the Schober one. Results: A significant statistical improvement was demonstrated in the reduction of pain (p<0.0001) and daily functioning (p<0.0001). The biggest change was observed in the case of personal care, sleeping and traveling activities. There was no significant change in walking (p=0, 6323), sitting (p=0, 0827) and lifting heavy objects (p=0.0761). Conclusions: The use of the whole-body cryotherapy significantly improves daily functional efficiency and reduces pain of patients with lumbar spine osteoarthritis. In addition, the range of mobility is improved