EFFECT OF WHOLE-BODY CRYOTHERAPY ON SELECTED BLOOD CHEMISTRY PARAMETERS IN PROFESSIONAL FIELD HOCKEY PLAYERS Anna Straburzyńska-Lupa, Agata Konarska, Alicja Nowak, Ewa Straburzyńska-Migaj, Jan Konarski, Krzysztof Kijewski, Łucja Pilaczyńska-Szcześniak FP 2007; 7(1):15-20 ICID: 479740
Article type: Original article
IC™ Value: 5.89
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Abstract provided by Publisher
Background. Whole-body cryotheraphy has been used by sports professionals as a training adjunct for many years. As bibliographic data presenting empirical research concerning this subject are limited, we carried out a study to evaluate the effect of whole-body cryotherapy on selected blood chemistry markers, including interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), in professional athletes.
Material and methods. The study enrolled 11 Polish men's national field hockey team members aged 25.8 ± 2.9 years (min. 21, max 31 yrs). Whole-body cryotherapy was administered twice a day (at temperatures from -120°C to -130°C) for 2.5-3 minutes, for a total of 18 procedures. In addition, all participants attended a general fitness training session in a gymnasium after each cryotherapy procedure. Blood chemistry determinations (erythrocyte sedimentation rate – ESR, leukocyte count – WBC, erythrocyte count – RBC, platelets, haemoglobin – HGB, haematocrit – HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, percentage of lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils, and interleukin-1ß levels) were performed at baseline and on completion of the series of 18 cryotherapy procedures as well as one week later.
Results and Conclusions. Whole-body cryotherapy significantly decreased the RBC, HGB and HCT parameters in peripheral blood. The decrease was, however, not permanent and after one week the parameters returned to baseline values (RBC, HCT) or were increased in comparison to baseline values (HGB). Whole-body cryotherapy was not found to have an immunomodulatory effect in the study group (WBC, percentage of lymphocytes, monocytes or neutrophils, IL-1ß levels), except for its effect on the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which did not change immediately after the treatment but was significantly lower one week later.
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