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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2014 Jan 29;9(1):e86420.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086420. eCollection 2014.

The effect of three different (-135°C) whole body cryotherapy exposure durations on elite rugby league players

James Selfe  1 , Jill Alexander  2 , Joseph T Costello  3 , Karen May  2 , Nigel Garratt  4 , Stephen Atkins  5 , Stephanie Dillon  5 , Howard Hurst  5 , Matthew Davison  5 , Daria Przybyla  5 , Andrew Coley  6 , Mark Bitcon  6 , Greg Littler  2 , Jim Richards  2
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

The effect of three different (-135°C) whole body cryotherapy exposure durations on elite rugby league players

James Selfe et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Background: Whole body cryotherapy (WBC) is the therapeutic application of extreme cold air for a short duration. Minimal evidence is available for determining optimal exposure time.

Purpose: To explore whether the length of WBC exposure induces differential changes in inflammatory markers, tissue oxygenation, skin and core temperature, thermal sensation and comfort.

Method: This study was a randomised cross over design with participants acting as their own control. Fourteen male professional first team super league rugby players were exposed to 1, 2, and 3 minutes of WBC at -135°C. Testing took place the day after a competitive league fixture, each exposure separated by seven days.

Results: No significant changes were found in the inflammatory cytokine interleukin six. Significant reductions (p<0.05) in deoxyhaemoglobin for gastrocnemius and vastus lateralis were found. In vastus lateralis significant reductions (p<0.05) in oxyhaemoglobin and tissue oxygenation index (p<0.05) were demonstrated. Significant reductions (p<0.05) in skin temperature were recorded. No significant changes were recorded in core temperature. Significant reductions (p<0.05) in thermal sensation and comfort were recorded.

Conclusion: Three brief exposures to WBC separated by 1 week are not sufficient to induce physiological changes in IL-6 or core temperature. There are however significant changes in tissue oxyhaemoglobin, deoxyhaemoglobin, tissue oxygenation index, skin temperature and thermal sensation. We conclude that a 2 minute WBC exposure was the optimum exposure length at temperatures of -135°C and could be applied as the basis for future studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The use of the mobile Cryochamber, liquid nitrogen and specialist operator were provided free of charge by BOC Linde throughout the testing. This does not alter our adherence to all the PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Mean NIRO values for VL, pre and post WBC exposure for all three WBC time exposures (1, 2 and 3 minutes).
Values are means (N = 9). Statistical significance (P<0.05) observed over a period of time (pre, immediately post exposure, +5 minutes, +10 Minutes and, +15 minutes post exposure. * indicates significantly different to pre WBC; †indicates significantly different to 0–5 min post WBC.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Tissue deoxygenation for gastrocnemius, pre and post WBC exposure for all three WBC time exposures (1, 2 and 3 minutes).
Values are means (N = 9). Statistical significance (P<0.05) observed over a period of time (pre, immediately post exposure, +5 minutes, +10 Minutes, +15 minutes and +20 minutes post exposure. * indicates significantly different to pre WBC; †indicates significantly different to 0–5 min post WBC.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Core and Abdomen skin temperature before and after WBC exposure (1, 2 and 3 minutes).
Y-axis on the left measures skin temperature and Y-axis on the right measures core temperature. Values are means (N = 9). for timepoints, pre, immediately post exposure, +5 minutes, +10 Minutes, +15 minutes and +20 minutes post exposure.
Figure 4
Figure 4. CONSORT diagram showing participant flow and retention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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