The effect of cryotherapy on fibromyalgia: a randomised clinical trial carried out in a cryosauna cabin

Abstract

Evidence of symptomatic treatment for fibromyalgia (FM) is very low. Whole body cryotherapy (WBC) modulates different neurotransmitters, which might have a role in pain alleviation and could exert an effect on FM. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of WBC for the control of pain and impact of disease in FM. For this we run an open, randomized, crossover trial of Cryosense TCT™ cabin vs rest. Patients with FM according to ACR criteria were recruited consecutively from general practices. Trial endpoints were change (∆) in pain after 2 and 4 weeks, measured by a visual analogue scale (VAS), ∆ burden of disease, evaluated by the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and severity of FM, measured by the Combined Index of Severity of Fibromyalgia (ICAF). Within group differences, sequence and period effects were tested with Student’s t or Mann–Whitney U tests. Multiple linear regression models were used to adjust effect by baseline differences between groups. Sixty patients were included in the trial. A period effect was noted, with residual effect of WBC; therefore, only results from the first sequence were analysed. ∆VAS pain, ∆FIQ and ∆ICAF scores were significantly larger in the WBC group after the first period (3.0 vs 0.3 in ∆VAS pain; 32.1 vs 0.4 in ∆FIQ; 13.7 vs 0.07 in ∆ICAF; all p < 0.001), and were confirmed after adjustment. In conclusion, WBC with a Cryosense TCT cabin may be a useful adjuvant therapy for FM; further studies on long-term effect and compared to other physical therapies are warranted.Trial registration NCT03425903.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00296-018-4176-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Fibromyalgia: Recent Advances in Diagnosis, Classification, Pharmacotherapy and Alternative Remedies

“…Cryotherapy refers to the use of low temperatures to decrease the inflammatory reaction, including oedema [ 125 ]. Cryotherapy induces several organism physiological reactions like increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines, beta-endorphins, ACTH, white blood cells, catecholamines and cortisol, immunostimulation due to noradrenalin response to cold, the increase in the level of plasma total antioxidant status and the reduction of pain through the alteration of nerve conduction [ 126 ]. When compared to control FM subjects, cryotherapy-treated FM patients reported a more pronounced improvement of the quality of life [ 127 ].…”

“…When compared to control FM subjects, cryotherapy-treated FM patients reported a more pronounced improvement of the quality of life [ 127 ]. Whole body cryotherapy was also found to be a useful adjuvant therapy for FM [ 126 ].…”

Cryotherapy Dan Intensitas Nyeri Pada Injeksi Intrakutan

“…Beberapa penelitian menunjukkan bahwa cryotherapy efektif dalam mengurangi respon peradangan pada hewan percobaan (Ramos, et al, 2016;Bleakley & Davidson, 2010) dan pada pasien dengan penyakit peradangan (Stanek, Cholewka, Wielkoszynski, Romuk, & Sieron, 2018;Guilot, et al, 2014). Penggunaan terapy dingin juga efektif dalam menangani nyeri pada fibromyalgia (Rivera, Tercero, salas, Gimeno, & Alejo, 2018) (Mahshidfar, et al, 2016). Pemberian terapi dingin sebelum injeksi subkutan dan intramuskular juga mengurangi intensitas nyeri pada saat penyuntikan (El-Deen & Youssef, 2018;Ramadan, El-fouly, Sharaf, & Ayoub, 2016).…”

Medical rehabilitation in the combination treatment of rheumatic diseases: a review

“…Имеются отдельные работы, показавшие эффективность криотерапии при фибромиалгии (ФМ), АС и ОА [20][21][22][23].…”