Whole-Body Cryostimulation: Clinical Applications

This book entails chapters ranging from cell to clinical studies exploring the state-of-the-art of the molecular and clinical effects of Whole-Body Cryostimulation (WBC). Based on consolidated evidence, WBC is nowadays widely used in elité athletes for recovery from muscle fatigue or injury but, despite growing scientific support, it remains a niche topic in the field of Rehabilitation. At present, WBC is used mostly in eastern Europe as add-on treatment for rheumatological conditions, but recent literature suggests that its positive effects can have a clinically significant impact on a wider range of conditions. The novelty of the book consists of documenting the clinical and functional effects of WBC in a range of conditions including post/long-Covid symptoms, fibromyalgia, rheumatologic, metabolic, psychiatric, sleep and respiratory disorders, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease, spasticity.

It addresses clinicians, researchers and postgraduate students, trying to provide evidence-based support for the use of WBC in pain and fatigue reduction, and improvement in functioning, mood, quality of sleep in various clinical conditions. The recently unveiled metabolic effects of the chronic exposure to cryogenic temperatures represent cutting-edge research in the field of obesity and diabetes management.

The book describes the work-in-progress of an international panel of experts and provides the latest indications for a safe use of WBC in the clinical setting in different medical conditions. It is about time to pinpoint to the clinical audience the current achievements on this topic together with the limitations of the existing studies, the lack of standard protocols with regard to individual “doses” of cryogenic exposure in specific health conditions and the safety concerns in order to foster research on the application of clinically useful and safe WBC protocols as add-on treatments able to boost rehabilitation programs.

Prof. Capodaglio is Professor in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Torino, Italy, as well as Director of the Rehabilitation Unit and the Research Laboratory in Biomechanics, Rehabilitation and Ergonomics at the Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS in Piancavallo, Italy. He chairs the European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Committee for Rehabilitation in Metabolic Conditions and is Member of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine Clinical Sciences Committee and the International Institute of Refrigeration. He has published over 280 papers and 10 monographies on PRM topics and serves as reviewer for many scientific journals.