Whole body cryotherapy

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Under Full cold therapy (GKKT), a special form of cryotherapy is that short-term application temperatures - typically in the form of still air - understood in the whole body surface. GKKT is a passive physical short-term therapy with a systemic effect, the application of which takes place in a cold chamber (whole-body cold therapy chamber). Most studies speak of −110 ° C, with a positive effect of the application from −100 ° C, although some systems reach significantly lower temperatures. Smaller, upwardly open chambers for one person are also known as 1-person cold chambers.

history

Cold as a therapeutic application has been known for a long time and a. mentioned in the Corpus Hippocraticum (Hippocrates, 460–377 BC). The best-known German forerunner of GKKT is probably the use of short, cold full baths according to Sebastian Kneipp (1821 to 1897). Today's GKKT was introduced by the Japanese T. Yamauchi in 1980 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis . In 1984 GKKT entered Germany with Reinhard Fricke for the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

The GKKT is used in medicine, sport and as a wellness application. In addition to the studies published since 1984, the summarizing book by Winfried Papenfuß in the medical field and the investigative book by Sandra Ückert in the sports field should be mentioned.

procedure

The application takes place in swimwear with closed shoes, gloves and headband ( acre protection ) and respiratory protection.

For acclimatization and evaporation of the residual moisture on the skin, first short stays in the so-called antechambers at −10 ° C and then −60 ° C take place. The subsequent stay in the actual application chamber at −110 ° C usually lasts for up to three minutes. It is recommended to walk slowly in circles avoiding hectic movements. Among other things, because of the lack of evaporation cold (air humidity almost 0%, dry skin), the temperature is not perceived as so cold ( temperature felt ). In a subjective comparison, a dip in the plunge pool after the sauna is described as colder.

After leaving you will feel a slight tingling sensation and have a slightly reddened skin. Then relax or, if necessary, continue with an individual application or therapy program.

Cryotherapy patients preparing for treatment (approx. 3 minutes)

Effective components of whole-body cold therapy

The effective components of GKKT include pain relief or pain relief, anti-inflammatory , immune modulation , regulation of muscle tone , improvement of muscle circulation , economization of muscle metabolism and modification of neuronal activation, functional improvement of the joints, regulation of the central activity level, psychophysical performance stimulation, promotion of well-being and economization in the cardiovascular system and the energy balance .

Applications

The range of applications includes:

Contraindications

The absolute and relative contraindications are very similar to those of the normal sauna followed by a plunge pool.

Absolute contraindications
have untreated high blood pressure values above 160/100 mm Hg, a heart attack less than half a year back is, congestive diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory system, peripheral circulatory disorders, unstable angina pectoris , cardiac pacemakers , Expired vein thrombosis , acute phlebitis , acute diseases Respiratory tract, acute kidney / urinary tract diseases , severe anemia, cold allergies, tumor diseases , seizure disorders and skin infections.
Relative contraindications
Cardiac arrhythmias , cardiac valve defects , condition after heart operations, ischemic heart disease , Raynaud's syndrome , polyneuropathies , immunosuppression , pregnancy (from the 4th month), vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) and claustrophobia .

Use in sports

In sport, the GKKT is used to shorten rehabilitation times, to treat pain (especially for older competitive athletes), to optimize training intervals or to avoid overtraining and to improve performance. Depending on the sport, the focus is on improving motor and coordinative performance, as well as performance-related speed, maximum strength and endurance. The optimal duration of use is between 2:00 and 2:30 minutes. The percentage increase in performance that can be achieved depends on the respective performance level. Less trained people experience a higher percentage rate of increase than well trained professional athletes.

Use in the spa

The motives for the use of whole-body cold applications in the wellness area are aimed at well-being and disease prevention. Wellness pursues the approach of personal responsibility and active examination of one's own health, therefore further motives for the use of whole body cold are derived from the medical and sporting goals. So far, however, there are only a few thermal baths and hotels that invest in a cold chamber. However, some companies in studio-type branches offer individual sessions in cold chambers. These are often referred to as "cold saunas" or "ice boxes". A five-minute application usually costs between 25 and 40 euros.

literature

  • B. Benkenstein: Whole-body cold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in patients with high disease activity. Inaugural dissertation at the Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, 2001.
  • HE Hirvonen, M. Mikkelsson, H. Kautiainen, TH Pohjolainen, M. Leirisalo-Repo: Effectiveness of different cryotherapies on pain and disease activity in active rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized single blinded controlled trial. in: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology . 24: 295-301, 2006.
  • B. Hollensteiner: Analgesic effect of whole-body cold therapy -110 ° C, 3 min. Inaugural dissertation at the Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster, 2003.
  • A. Kaminska-Staruch, J. Olszewski: Evaluation of the effectiveness of whole-body cryo-therapy in patients with tinnitus. Otolaryngologia Polska 61 (5) pp. 801-804, 2007.
  • J. Leppäluoto, T. Westerlund, P. Huttunen, J. Oksa, J. Smolander, B. Dugue, M. Mikkelsson: Effects of long term whole-body cold exposures on plasma concentrations of ACTH, beta-endorphin, cortisol, catecholamines and cytokines in healthy females. Scandinavian J. of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 68 (2) pp. 145-153, 2008.
  • A. Lubowska, B. Dolegowska, Z. Szygula, A Klimek: Activity of selected enzymes in Erythrocytes and level of plasma antioxidants in response to single whole-body cryo-stimulation in humans. Scandinavian J. of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation 69 (3) pp. 387-394, 2009.
  • E. Miller, M. Mrowicka, K. Malinowska, J. Mrowicki, J. Saluk-Juszczak, J. Kedziora: The effects of whole-body cryotherapy on oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis patients. J. of Thermal Biology 35 (8) pp. 406-410, 2010.
  • H. Podbielska, W. Strek, GJ Mueller, H. Podbielska, W. Strek, D. Bialy: Whole body cryotherapy and depressive symptoms. Kriotechnika Medyczna, Sp. 70.0., Poland 2006.
  • S. Rudolf: Determination of the β-endorphin-immunoreactive material (β-ED IRM) and the N-acetyl-β-endorphin IRM (NAC IRM) in the plasma of healthy test subjects after a single whole body cold therapy (GKKT) at -110 ° C over 3 minutes. Inaugural dissertation at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, 2005.
  • J. Rymaszewska, A. Tulczynski, Z. Zagrobelny, A. Kiejna, T Hadrys: Influence of whole body cryotherapy on depressive symptoms - preliminary report. Acta Neuropsychiatrica 15 (3) pp. 122-128, 2003.
  • IB Senne: Effects of the whole body cold chamber in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Inaugural dissertation at the Westphalian Wilhelms University of Münster, 2001.
  • J. Smolander, J. Leppäluoto, T. Westerlund, J. Oksa, B. Dugue: Effects of repeated whole-body cold exposures on serum concentrations of growth hormone, thyrotropin, prolactin and thyroid hormones in healthy women. Cryobiology 58 (3) pp. 275-278, 2009.
  • J. Smolander, T. Westerlund, A. Uusitalo, B. Dugue, J. Oksa, M. Mikkelsson: Lung function after acute and repeated exposure to extremely cold air (-110 ° C) during whole body cryotherapy. Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging 26 (4) pp 232-234, 2006.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ R. Kapferer (ed.): The works of Hippokrates. Volume 1 (VIII / 94), Anger-Verlag Eick, Anger, 1995.
  2. ↑ Maximilian Platen: The New Healing Method. German publishing house Bong u.Co., Berlin, Leipzig, Vienna, Stuttgart, 1907, 1st volume.
  3. ↑ T. Yamauchi: Whole body Cryotherapy is a method of extreme cold -175 ° C treatment initially used for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Z.phys. Med.Klimatol. 15 (1986), p. 311.
  4. ↑ R. Fricke: Local cryotherapy and whole-body cold therapy at -110 ° C. Lecture at the German Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Conference, 1993.
  5. ↑ a b c W. Papenfuß: The power of the cold, whole body cold therapy at -110 ° C. Edition k, Regensburg, Wolfsegg, 2011, ISBN 978-3-938912-03-4 .
  6. ↑ a b S. Ückert: Temperature and athletic performance. Meyer & Meyer Verlag, 2012, ISBN 978-3-89899-665-5 .
  7. ↑ a b Consensus Declaration on Whole Body Cold Therapy (GKKT). Bad Vöslau 2006 ( Memento of the original from March 1, 2013 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. at multiple-sklerose-abensberg.de  @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.multiple-sklerose-abensberg.de
  8. ↑ M. Buchta, D. Höper, A. Sönnichsen: The second StEx, basic knowledge of clinical medicine for exams and practice. Springer-Verlag Heidelberg Berlin, 2nd edition 2006, p. 1213 ISBN 3-540-20351-6 .
  9. ↑ Federal Institute for Sport Science: National coaching forum "DLV refrigeration conference" 6./7. December 2008 in Mainz, pp. 67-71, ISBN 978-3-86884-496-2 .
  10. ↑ Michael Wittershagen interviews Helmut Hoffmann, in: Nachgefragt. Minus 110 degrees. Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung from February 8, 2009, p. 20.
  11. ↑ [1] Article on faz.net: Cold therapy: Can you shiver slim?