Page 1
IJOMEH 2010;23(2) 181
O R I G I N A L P A P E R S
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health 2010;23(2):181 – 189
DOI 10.2478/v10001-010-0019-2
INFLUENCE OF THE TEN SESSIONS
OF THE WHOLE BODY CRYOSTIMULATION
ON AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC CAPACITY
ANDRZEJ T. KLIMEK1, ANNA LUBKOWSKA2,3, ZBIGNIEW SZYGUŁA4,
MONIKA CHUDECKA5, and BARBARA FRĄCZEK6
1 University School of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland
Institute of Human Physiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry
2 Szczecin University, Szczecin, Poland
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Natural Sciences
3 Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
Department of Biochemistry and Medical Chemistry
4 University School of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland
Institute of Human Physiology, Department of Sports Medicine
5 Szczecin University, Szczecin, Poland
Department of Antropology, Faculty of Natural Sciences
6 University School of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland
Institute of Human Physiology, Department of Human Nutrition
Abstract
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of whole body cryostimulation on aerobic and anaerobic
capacities. Materials and Methods: To test the hypothesis that whole body cryostimulation improves physical capacity,
thirty subjects (fifteen males and fifteen females) undertook two ergocycle trials before and after the ten sessions of cryo-
genic chamber treatment. To assess baseline aerobic capacity, the progressive cycle ergometer test was applied. This al-
lowed determination of maximal oxygen uptake and ventilatory thresholds. Twenty-second Wingate test was performed to
assess baseline levels of anaerobic power. After finishing the treatments in the cryogenic chamber, the exercise protocol was
repeated. Before the first, and after the last whole body cryostimulation, venous blood samples were drawn to determine
basic blood values, including levels of erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes, hemoglobin concentration, and hemat-
ocrit. Results: There were no changes in aerobic capacity, in both females and males, after ten sessions of 3-minute-long
exposures to cryogenic temperature (–130°C). Participation in the whole body cryostimulation caused an increase in maxi-
mal anaerobic power in males (from 11.1 to 11.9 W×kg–1; P < 0.05), but not in females. Conclusions: It can be concluded
that whole body cryostimulation can be beneficial, at least in males, for increasing anaerobic capacity in sport disciplines
involving speed and strength.
Key words:
Cryostimulation, Cryogenic temperature, Aerobic capacity, Anaerobic capacity
Received: May 5, 2010. Accepted: June 7, 2010.
Address reprint request to A.T. Klimek, Institute of Human Physiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University School of Physical Education, Al. Jana
Pawła II 78, 31-571 Kraków, Poland (e-mail: andrzej.klimek@awf.krakow.pl).
Page 2
O R I G I N A L P A P E R S A. KLIMEK ET AL.
IJOMEH 2010;23(2)182
temperature on human performance are practically
non-existent. Thus, the main objective of this study
was to investigate the effects of a ten-day-long series of
whole body cryostimulation (once a day) on aerobic and
anaerobic capacity.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The research included 30 volunteers — students of physi-
cal education, both female, (n = 15) and male, (n = 15)
with an average age of 21.6 years. Participants were divid-
ed into two groups because of gender differences in ther-
mal regulation. Before the beginning of the experiment,
all of the participants underwent a medical examination to
confirm their health status, ability to perform exhaustive
exercise and participate in cryostimulation.
Before the beginning of the study basic anthropometric
data was collected, including: body height (BH), body
mass (BM), body mass index (BMI), fat content (%Fat),
fat mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM). The anthropo-
metric variables considered in this work, their mean values
and standard deviations are presented in Table 1.
Table 1. Somatic characteristics of the female (F) and male (M)
study participants
Variables
F M
mean SD mean SD
Age (years) 21.7 0.88 21.2 0.86
BH (cm) 165.9 7.19 182.3 7.64
BM (kg) 57.7 6.09 74.8 5.84
BMI (kg×m–2) 21.0 1.70 22.5 1.55
Fat (%) 20.8 4.69 11.7 2.29
Fat Mass (kg) 12.2 3.81 8.7 1.84
Fat-Free Mass (kg) 45.5 2.97 66.0 5.43
Progressive ergocycle test was applied to assess aerobic ca-
pacities. The test was performed on a bicycle ergometer,
beginning with a work load of 1W per kg of fat-free mass
(1 W×kgFFM
–1) which was increased by half of this value
(0.5 W×kgFFM
–1) every 2 min until volitional exhaustion.
During the exercise, the following variables were mea-
sured continuously: oxygen uptake (VO2), expired carbon
INTRODUCTION
Whole body cryotherapy treatments have very wide appli-
cation because of the complex influence of cold on the hu-
man body. The response of the body to cold temperatures
occurs through changes in the endocrine system (increase
in adrenocorticotropin concentration, β-endorphins,
epinephrine, norepinephrine and testosterone concen-
tration in men) [1–4], circulatory system (contraction of
blood vessels in the skin, then their dilation and conges-
tion of the skin) [5], neuromuscular system (reduction of
muscle tension, decrease in nerve conduction velocity) [6]
and immunological system (increase in cell-mediated
and humoral immunity) [1,7–10]. Moreover, whole body
cooling influences the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in
blood [11–14], and has an anti-inflammatory [15] as well
as an analgesic effect [6]. This analgesic effect is caused
by the combination of increased β-endorphin concentra-
tion and decreased nerve conduction in afferent fibers,
which are responsible for pain reception [2,16]. It should
be stressed that hypothermia also has a positive effect on
the psychological condition [17,18].
Such complex reactions should have a significant effect on
physical work capacity. The available data on the effects of
low temperatures on physical performance usually relate
to the influence of local cryotherapy on the rate of post
injury recovery [19,20], following local cooling treatments
with liquid nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and ice packs or cold
water immersion.
Benefits of cold therapy are observed not only in patients
with different diseases but also in athletes for the treat-
ment of sports injuries, and during recovery from high
training loads and competition [19–24]. The application
of low temperature treatments accelerates recovery after
surgery, and reduces the reoccurrence of tissue disrup-
tion [25]. Of a great significance to athletes subjected to
intense physical stress is the alleviation of pain, and de-
crease of post injury inflammation [20,22,25–27].
Effects of whole body cryostimulation on physical ca-
pacity have not been extensively studied. Long term re-
search of the whole body cryostimulation is rare. The
effects of whole body cryostimulation in a cryogenic
Page 3
WHOLE BODY CRYOSTIMULATION AND PHYSICAL CAPACITY O R I G I N A L P A P E R S
IJOMEH 2010;23(2) 183
location, where for 3’ they acclimatized to a tempera-
ture of –60°C, and later were placed for three minutes
in the chamber where the temperature was main-
tained at –130°C.
After leaving the chamber, they entered a room where the
temperature was about 19°C. The treatments were carried
out from Monday to Saturday, between 3.00–3.30 p.m.
The whole body cryostimulation was carried out in a mod-
ern, computerized cryogenic chamber.
Before the first and after the last treatment, venous blood
samples were drawn to determine blood variables, includ-
ing number of erythrocytes (RBC), hemoglobin concen-
tration (Hb), hematocrit value (Hct), number of leuko-
cytes (WBC) and thrombocytes (PLT).
Two days after the end of treatment in the cryogenic
chamber, the exercise procedures (progressive and Wing-
ate test) were repeated. All procedures were the same in
both series of tests for females (F) and males (M) before
cryostimulation — F1, M1 and after cryostimulation —
F2, M2.
Body mass and body composition were evaluated with
the use of electrical impedance (Tanita — Body Compo-
sition Analyzer, model TBF-300). To register variables
of respiratory system, the ergospirometer Medikro 919
(Finland) was used. Heart rate was measured with a Po-
lar sport-tester (Vantage NV). All tests were executed on
a Monark 818E bicycle ergometer (Sweden). Blood lac-
tate (LA) concentration was measured enzymatically us-
ing Biomerieux tests and Specol spectrophotometer (Carl
Zeiss Jena, Germany).
Ethics
The research project was approved by the Bioethical
Committee of the Regional Medical Society in Kraków.
All participants gave their informed consent prior to their
inclusion to the study.
Statistics
The obtained data was analyzed statistically. The results
were presented as arithmetic means (Mean) and standard
deviations (±SD). To determine the significance of dif-
ferences between the series of examinations in females
dioxide (VCO2), fraction of oxygen in expired air (FEO2),
fraction of carbon dioxide in expired air (FECO2), min-
ute ventilation (VE), tidal volume (TV), respiration
frequency (RF), ventilatory equivalent ratio for oxygen
(VE×VO2
–1), ventilatory equivalent ratio for carbon di-
oxide, (VE×VCO2
–1) and heart rate (HR). These values
allowed calculation of the ventilatory aerobic (AT) and
anaerobic (AnT) thresholds for each participant. To de-
termine AT, the maximum value of FEO2, significant in-
crease in VE and the minimum value of VE. VO2
–1 were
used, while maximum value of FECO2, significant increase
in VE, and the minimum value of VE×VCO2
–1 were used
for the determination of AnT [28].
The Wingate test was preformed to assess anaerobic
power and capacity of all participants [29]. This test was
preceded by a 2 min warm-up with a load of 1 W×kg–1,
and several 5 s accelerations. The final test was conducted
for over 20 s with the load set at 7.5% body mass for men
and 6.5% for women. The following variables of anaero-
bic power and capacity registered in the Wingate test were
considered in the work: maximal anaerobic power of lower
limbs (MAP), average power (AP), time to obtain and sus-
tain MAP (tobt, tsus), fatigue index (FI), and total external
work (Wtot).
Prior to and three minutes after each test (progressive and
Wingate), capillary blood samples were drawn from the
subject’s finger tip to determine plasma lactate concentra-
tion (LA).
Two days after performing the tests of aerobic and anaero-
bic capacity, participants started ten sessions of 3-minute-
long exposures to cryogenic temperature (–130°C), ac-
cording to the generally accepted protocol for cryotherapy
treatments in a cryogenic chamber:
Before entering the cryogenic chamber, participants 1.
dried their bodies thoroughly to eliminate the sensa-
tion of cold. To protect the upper airways, all partici-
pants breathed through a surgical mask. For protec-
tive purposes, all participants wore gloves, socks, spe-
cial footwear and head bands to protect the ears. The
males wore shorts while females wore bathing suits.
To achieve the initial adaptation to low temperatures, 2.
all subjects were introduced to the pre-chamber
Page 4
O R I G I N A L P A P E R S A. KLIMEK ET AL.
IJOMEH 2010;23(2)184
by 3.36 mmol×l–1, while the difference between pre and
post exercise lactate concentration was 2.73 mmol×l–1.
Participation in the whole body cryostimulation caused
a marginal, statistically insignificant decrease in the aero-
bic threshold levels in both females and males (Table 3).
The same tendency was observed in anaerobic threshold
after treatments of whole body cryostimulation in both ex-
perimental groups (Table 4).
Influence of the whole body cryostimulation
on anaerobic capacity
Ten sessions of 3-minute-long exposures to cryogenic tem-
perature caused an increase in anaerobic capacity of male
subjects. This was expressed by the rise of maximal anaer-
obic power, as well as other variables describing the ability
to perform short and intensive physical exercise in males
but not in females (Table 5).
In the male subjects, whole body cryostimulation caused
a significant (P < 0.05) increase in relative values of peak
power (11.1 vs. 11.9 W×kg-1). A significant (P < 0.05) in-
crease in mean power (723.9 vs. 756.1 W) was also observed,
as well as an increase in total work (13.77 vs. 14.53 kJ)
registered in the Wingate test after the whole body
(diff. F2 vs. F1) and in males (diff. M2 vs. M1) one-way
analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied. When a sig-
nificant F-value was found, a Tukey’s post-hoc tests were
used to determine the source of significance, which was
set at P < 0.05.
RESULTS
Influence of the whole body cryostimulation
on aerobic capacity
There were no changes in aerobic capacity, in both females
and males, after ten sessions of 3-minute-long exposures
to cryogenic temperature (Table 2).
Lactate values were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in
the second stage of the experiment, following the cryo-
stimulation treatment. Post exercise lactate concentra-
tion increased significantly (P < 0.05) by 2.11 mmol×l–1
(7.61 vs. 9.72 mmol×l–1) and the difference between val-
ues of post and pre exercise lactate concentration (∆LA)
was 1.54 mmol×l–1 in females. Similarly, changes in rest-
ing and post exercise lactate concentration in males were
significant (P < 0.05) after the series of whole body cryo-
stimulation. Post exercise lactate concentration increased
Table 2. Physiological variables for the female (F) and male (M) participants during the progressive test at maximal intensity
Variables
F1 F2 M1 M2 Differences
mean SD mean SD mean SD mean SD
F2
vs. F1
M2
vs. M1
T (min) 15.00 1.78 14.90 1.73 17.00 1.65 16.90 1.76 –0.10 –0.10
P max (W) 192.20 22.17 190.80 22.22 312.60 34.33 312.10 37.11 –1.40 –0.50
P max (W×kg–1) 3.40 0.45 3.30 0.43 4.20 0.36 4.10 0.44 –0.10 –0.10
VO2 max (L×min
–1) 2.70 0.30 2.60 0.35 4.20 0.39 4.10 0.34 –0.10 –0.10
VO2 max
(ml×kg–1×min–1)
46.90 5.85 45.80 5.32 56.20 2.87 55.30 3.83 –1.10 –0.90
VE max (l×min–1) 94.80 12.14 91.60 14.27 160.80 17.03 158.30 23.38 –3.20 –2.50
TV max (l) 2.00 0.34 2.00 0.27 2.90 0.23 3.00 0.36 0 0.10
RF max (1×min–1) 47.70 8.70 46.80 7.56 55.90 5.50 53.00 9.92 –0.90 –2.90
HR max (bpm) 190.90 6.80 190.60 7.77 192.90 8.57 189.80 5.69 –0.30 –3.10
LArest (mmol×l
–1) 0.92 0.40 1.49 0.36 0.98 0.35 1.61 0.37 0.57* 0.63*
LAexe (mmol×l
–1) 7.61 0.89 9.72 1.97 9.00 1.44 12.36 1.86 2.11* 3.36*
∆LA (mmol×l–1) 6.69 0.96 8.23 1.83 8.02 1.40 10.75 1.82 1.54* 2.73*
* Significant differences at the P < 0.05 level.
Page 5
WHOLE BODY CRYOSTIMULATION AND PHYSICAL CAPACITY O R I G I N A L P A P E R S
IJOMEH 2010;23(2) 185
in females and males. In females, the post exercise lac-
tate concentration increased significantly (P < 0.05)
by 2.53 mmol×l–1 in the second phase of the experiment.
The pre and post exercise lactate concentration difference
was 3.24 mmol×l–1.
In male subjects, the post exercise lactate concentration
significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 3.33 mmol×l–1 in the
cryostimulation. Additionally, a significant (P < 0.05)
decrease in time to reach peak power from 6.67 to 5.92 s
in the post-cryogenic treatment test was registered. How-
ever, the changes in time to sustain peak power were not
significant.
Significant changes were observed in pre and post exercise
lactate concentrations after the whole body cryostimulation
Table 3. Physiological variables for the female (F) and male (M) participants during the progressive test at the aerobic threshold (AT)
Variables
F1 F2 M1 M2 Differences
mean SD mean SD mean SD mean SD
F2
vs. F1
M2
vs. M1
T (min) 4.7 1.02 4.2 1.41 5.9 1.59 5.7 1.78 –0.5 –0.2
P (W) 75.8 10.59 70.3 16.13 130.3 26.94 126.9 30.75 –5.5 –3.4
P (W×kg–1) 1.3 0.20 1.2 0.26 1.8 0.35 1.7 0.39 –0.1 –0.1
VO2 (l×min
–1) 1.3 0.17 1.2 0.22 2.0 0.29 1.9 0.32 –0.1 –0.1
VO2
(ml×kg–1×min–1)
21.7 2.44 20.5 2.68 26.1 4.60 25.9 3.87 –1.2 –0.2
VE (l×min–1) 27.9 4.03 28.1 5.68 37.3 8.63 41.4 6.82 0.2 4.1
TV (l) 1.4 0.33 1.3 0.26 1.8 0.46 1.9 0.43 –0.1 0.1
RF (1×min–1) 20.8 3.76 22.8 4.32 21.1 5.10 22.0 4.18 2.0 0.9
HR (bpm) 132.0 10.88 130.1 6.12 134.0 10.70 131.0 8.24 –1.9 –3.0
%VO2max 47.1 7.03 45.2 7.18 48.1 8.10 46.1 6.28 –1.9 –2.0
%HRmax 69.1 4.51 68.3 3.01 69.5 3.80 69.4 4.31 –0.8 –0.1
Table 4. Physiological variables for the female (F) and male (M) participants during the progressive test at the anaerobic threshold (AnT)
Variables
F1 F2 M1 M2 Differences
mean SD mean SD mean SD mean SD
F2
vs. F1
M2
vs. M1
T (min) 10.6 1.85 10.2 0.97 11.0 2.38 10.5 1.56 –0.4 –0.5
P (W) 142.8 23.87 137.1 10.90 214.4 44.95 208.0 32.09 –5.7 –6.4
P (W×kg–1) 2.5 0.44 2.4 0.29 2.9 0.53 2.8 0.36 –0.1 –0.1
VO2 (l×min
–1) 2.0 0.34 1.9 0.28 2.9 0.42 2.8 0.35 –0.1 0.1
VO2
(ml×kg–1×min–1)
35.0 5.90 33.3 4.50 38.2 5.04 37.4 3.63 –1.7 –0.8
VE (l×min–1) 50.1 8.57 49.3 6.66 68.5 12.83 67.9 9.38 –0.8 –0.6
TV (l) 1.8 0.38 1.8 0.31 2.5 0.41 2.5 0.38 0 0
RF (1×min–1) 28.0 4.91 28.2 4.96 28.1 6.09 27.5 4.01 0.2 –0.6
HR (bpm) 167.6 12.65 168.2 12.12 165.4 7.92 159.7 11.45 0.6 –5.7
%VO2max 74.8 8.00 72.7 6.11 69.4 8.31 66.6 4.83 –2.1 –2.8
%HRmax 87.7 4.59 87.4 4.22 85.9 2.47 84.5 4.58 –0.3 –1.4
End of preview.
