Whole-Body Cryostimulation in Fibromyalgia: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Currently, all available therapies for the control and management of fibromyalgia (FM) are mostly focused on relieving patients’ symptoms and improving their quality of life. The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview of the evidence supporting the beneficial effects of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) in patients with FM and evidence-based guidance on the possible adjuvant use of WBC in the treatment of FM. We searched the most recent literature by retrieving 10 eligible studies, 4 of which were abstracts only, from a total of 263 records. Thermal stress caused by cryostimulation induces an analgesic effect, improving pain, redox balance, and inflammatory symptoms in an exercise-mimicking fashion. In addition, it reduces the feeling of fatigue, improves mood, and reduces mental health deterioration with positive consequences on depressive states and improved sleep quality. Although the studies included in this review are not of sufficient quality and quantity to draw definitive conclusions about the effectiveness of WBC in FM, initial evidence indicates WBC as a promising add-on option in the multidisciplinary treatment of FM, due to its rapid action and high patients’ compliance. The application of WBC protocols has the potential to expand therapeutic options for the treatment of FM and related disorders; however, larger, high-quality primary studies are still needed.

Is Whole-Body Cryostimulation an Effective Add-On Treatment in Individuals with Fibromyalgia and Obesity? A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

“…All of these mechanisms may account for the reported pain-relieving properties of WBC. Thus, WBC could be a particularly useful treatment for FM as an imbalance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is thought to play a role in the development and maintenance of pain as well as the occurrence of many of the disease’s clinical features [ 50 ], especially when comorbid obesity is present, which is associated with chronic systemic inflammation [ 51 , 52 ].…”

“…However, preliminary evidence suggests that WBC may also improve sleep quality [ 42 , 54 ], physical functioning [ 55 ], and reduce depressive symptoms [ 41 ]. These findings suggest that WBC may be especially beneficial for patients with obesity and FM, who have higher levels of pain severity, depressive symptoms, impact of disease, and poorer sleep quality [ 50 , 56 , 57 ]. To date, however, no study has yet been conducted to evaluate the effect of WBC on these aspects in patients with FM and comorbid obesity.…”

Whole-body Cryostimulation: A Rehabilitation Booster

“…However, with the growing knowledge of WBC’s mechanisms of action, related effects and advances in technology that can nowadays tame the thermal stress by providing a controlled and homogeneous “dose of cold” over the patient’s body surface, the spectrum of diseases that can be effectively treated using WBC has expanded considerably. WBC is currently being used to relieve symptoms in rheumatoid arthritis ( 1 ), fibromyalgia ( 1 – 3 ), ankylosing spondylitis ( 4 ), depression and anxiety ( 5 ), multiple sclerosis ( 6 ), sleep disturbances ( 7 ), muscle soreness after strenuous physical exercise ( 8 ), post-Covid syndrome ( 9 , 10 ) and obesity ( 11 , 12 ). In our opinion, the powerful effects of thermal stress on the physiological responses of the human body present unique features that could potentially be exploited to boost rehabilitation outcomes in various conditions.…”