Working Group - Whole-body cryotherapy or cryostimulation

Objectives of the working group

 

Whole body cryostimulation/cryotherapy is an exposure to intense cold temperatures (from -50 to -180°C) for 2 to 4 minutes. The aim of this exposure is generally to generate benefits both during recovery from physical or sporting activity and during a cure to relieve pain, reduce pathological symptoms, improve sleep, or for a better well-being.

The major objectives of the working group are to establish links between the different actors of cryostimulation/cryotherapy (scientists, technicians, engineers, health personnel, operators) so that this community can develop guidelines concerning:

• Standardisation of exposure protocols according to the characteristics of the individuals and the expected effects
• Standardisation of measurement methods during exposure in the various devices currently on the market
• Safety during exposure to low temperatures

The working group will propose evidence-based recommendations. In a practical way, the group will publish its recommendations via the International Institute of Refrigeration (website, booklets (in several languages)), organise conferences, workshops, seminars, reports to raise awareness of cryotherapy/cryostimulation, and conduct scientific monitoring.

Another important goal of the working group is to stimulate scientific collaborations between its members in order to be able to propose in the medium term multicentric research works concerning cryostimulation/cryotherapy.

 

Activities

 

Latest activities

The working group started its activities in 2017, and met notably during the 3^rd IIR Conference on cold applications in life sciences in Saint Petersburg in September 2018.

 

 

The group then met in Montreal for the 25^th IIR International Refrigeration Congress in August 2019.

 

 

As a result of these various meetings, the group drafted and recently published an Informatory Note. The group is currently preparing a literature review on the subject of whole body cryostimulation to be published in an international scientific journal.

 

Future activities

The WG will meet in the year 2023 during the 26^th International Congress of Refrigeration to report on its progress.

 

How to join this working group?

 

Anyone interested in those issues is invited to become a member of the IIR. Members of the working group are expected to be either private members or representatives of corporate members of the IIR. For more information, you can write to: info@iifiir.org.