Effects of whole-body cryotheraphy on sit and reach amplitude in healthy women

Aim: A decrease in neural activation of the muscle has been linked with greater range of motion (ROM). The application of cold agents could reduce neural activation. Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) consists in the exposure of the human body to a very cold temperature (minor than -110°C) for a short period of time. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if both a single session and ten sessions of WBC affect ROM. Methods: 90 women were recruited for this study. They were divided into two groups (control and experimental). After the initial sit-and-reach test, experimental group performed a 150 s session of WBC, whereas the control group performed the same movements (standing rotation) in a temperature-controlled room. Immediately after, both groups performed another sit-and-reach test. 30 of these subjects were also divided into other two subgroups: experimental performed ten 150 s sessions of WBC and immediately before and after the tenth session they performed another sit-and-reach test; control performed another sit-and-reach at the tenth day of the study. Results: Experimental groups improved sit-and-reach amplitude to a greater extend than the control group, both after one single WBC session than after ten consecutive WBC sessions. Conclusions: Our results support the hypothesis that ROM is increased immediately after a single session of WBC. This increase remains also after ten consecutive WBC sessions. References: C.M. Bleakley, J.T. Costello, Do thermal agents affect range of movement and mechanical properties in soft tissues? A systematic review., Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 94 (2013) 149–163. C.C. Larsen, J.M. Troiano, R.J. Ramirez, M.G. Miller, W.R. Holcomb, Effects of Crushed Ice and Wetted Ice on Hamstring Flexibility After PNF Stretching., J. Strength Cond. Res. (2013). A.A. Algafly, K.P. George, The effect of cryotherapy on nerve conduction velocity, pain threshold and pain tolerance., Br. J. Sports Med. 41 (2007) 365–9; discussion 369.