The Effect of Whole-Body Cryotherapy on Exercise Capacity of Healthy Training Men

Objectives: To analyze the effect of whole-body cryotherapy on exercise tolerance in healthy, training men related to their profession based on the 6 min walk test (6MWT). Methods: The study group consisted of 30 individuals aged 24 to 59 years (mean age 39.2; median 38, SD 8.72). The subjects were soldiers from the Special Forces Unit (Military Unit GROM) and officers from the State Protection Service (SOP). All participants underwent a physical fitness assessment using the 6 min walk test: before the study, after two weeks of kinesiotherapy, and after 10 cryotherapy sessions combined with exercise on a stationary bicycle. Kinesiotherapy consisted of 20 min of cycling on a stationary bicycle (cycloergometer) under the supervision of trained personnel (with a load of 50-100 W) from Monday to Friday, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon. Whole-body cryostimulation treatments took place from Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 12 noon, entering the cryogenic chamber with a temperature of -130 °C for 2 min, then they went to the gym and rode a stationary bicycle (cycloergometer) for 20 min under the supervision of trained personnel (with a load of 50-100 W). Results: Both analyzed factors, i.e., 20 min of stationary cycle ergometer riding and whole-body cryostimulation treatments combined with kinesiotherapy, had a statistically significant effect on improving 6 min walk test results. The obtained results indicate that the impact of the exercise program was slightly greater than the impact of a series of 10 whole-body cryotherapy treatments followed by cycle ergometer riding. Conclusions: Both physical activity and cryostimulation had an impact on the physical performance of the subjects, but the obtained results indicate that the impact of exercise alone was slightly greater.