Effect of whole body cryotherapy on low back pain and release of endorphins and stress hormones in patients with lumbar spine osteoarthritis
Barłowska-Trybulec M, Zawojska K, Szklarczyk J, Góralska M
Reumatologia · 11 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Controlled clinical trial (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2022-08-31 · Reumatologia · vol. 60 · issue 4 · pp. 247–251
- Publisher
- Termedia Publishing House
- Cited
- 19 citations · more than 83% of similar papers · 1.5× the field average
- References
- 21 works
- Access
- Open access (free to publish) · OTHER-OA
- Research areas
- Exercise and Physiological Responses · Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment
- Keywords
- Medicine, Cryotherapy, Massage, Visual analogue scale, Low back pain, Lumbar, Osteoarthritis, Physical therapy, Anesthesia, Internal medicine, Surgery, Pathology
4 authors
From PL
- Marta Barłowska-TrybulecJagiellonian University
- Klaudia Zawojska · correspondingJagiellonian University
- Joanna SzklarczykJagiellonian University
- Marta GóralskaJagiellonian University
Abstract
Introduction
Low back pain (LBP) is the most common ailment in patients with lumbar spine osteoarthritis (OA). There are many methods to treat LBP, such as manual therapy, osteopathy, massage, physical exercise, and physical therapy. The most effective of these are manual therapy and exercises combined with physical procedures, such as whole body cryotherapy (WBCT). Whole body cryotherapy can induce various hormonal adaptations in patients with OA. This is probably the body's reaction to cold and stress. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of WBCT on β-endorphins, cortisol and adrenaline release, as well as on LBP in patients with OA of the lumbar spine.
Material and methods
The study group consisted of 30 patients with lumbar spine OA who underwent a series of WBCT combined with therapeutic exercises. Before and after the therapy each patient was examined using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and blood samples were collected for laboratory determinations (ELISA).
Results
After WBCT, the decrease in LBP measured by VAS was statistically significant (p p = 0.10). The mean value of the plasma level of cortisol after treatment increased and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0009). The plasma level of adrenalin after treatment increased slightly, but the difference was statistically insignificant (p = 0.08).
Conclusions
Whole body cryotherapy combined with therapeutic exercises had a positive effect on LBP reduction in patients with OA. On the basis of these changes, processes that take place in the nervous and endocrine systems are a response to the stimuli of cold and stress. The mechanism of action of extremely low temperatures on the human body is still not fully understood.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY-NC-SA).
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