I’ve found some more studies on whole body cryotherapy WBC, all I can find on pubmed at the moment, but all positive and 2 very new ones, all from Europe.
Germany 2021, Klemm et al. Serial whole-body cryotherapy in fibromyalgia is effective and alters cytokine profiles - PubMed Serial WBC is a fast acting and effective treatment for FM. Proven effects of WBC may be explained by changes in cytokines.
Poland 2020, Rymaszewska et al. Efficacy of the Whole-Body Cryotherapy as Add-on Therapy to Pharmacological Treatment of Depression-A Randomized Controlled Trial - PubMed “Accumulating evidence indicates the effectiveness of cryogenic temperature interventions in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and chronic low back pain. … The WBC intervention reduces mental health deterioration, especially in mood disorders, such as depression, and can be beneficial for well-being and quality of life.”
Turkey 2017, Yilmaz et al. The effects of local cold application on fibromyalgia pain - PubMed … local cold applications performed on the trapezius muscles of patients with fibromyalgia significantly decreased their pain. With its discovery of a new method of pain control…"
Finland 2013, Gauffin et al.: Do fibromyalgia patients use active pain management strategies? A cohort study - PubMed Active pain management strategies are most efficacious for fibromyalgia patients, regardless of the severity of fibromyalgia or optional comorbid depression. / The most frequently reported pain management strategies were physical exercise (54%), physical therapy (32%) and cold treatment (27%).
(Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine - Do fibromyalgia patients use active pain management strategies? A cohort study - HTML)
France 2016, Bouzigon et al. Whole- and partial-body cryostimulation/cryotherapy: Current technologies and practical applications - PubMed “Despite the increasing scientific interest in these methods, there is a lack of information about the technologies used. Moreover, there is no existing reference concerning exposure protocols and the relationship between temperature, duration, number of repetitions and the treatments’ desired effects. … This review emphasises 1) the lack of information concerning the actual temperatures inside the cabin or chamber during exposure and 2) the heterogeneity among the exposure protocols that have been reported in the scientific literature.”
The most important quotes from the 3 studies I’d already linked above (Italy 2013, Spain 2018, France 2018)
Alread linked above Italy 2013, Bettoni et al. Effects of 15 consecutive cryotherapy sessions on the clinical output of fibromyalgic patients - PubMed I wrote Betoni above, Bettoni is right. The quotes: “more pronounced improvement of the quality of life”, perhaps because it improves the “balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators”, which modulates pain.
Already linked above Spain 2018, Rivera et al. The effect of cryotherapy on fibromyalgia: a randomised clinical trial carried out in a cryosauna cabin - PubMed “In conclusion, WBC with a Cryosense TCT cabin may be a useful adjuvant therapy for FM; further studies on long-term effect and compared to other physical therapies are warranted.”
Already linked above France 2018, Vitenet et al. Effect of whole body cryotherapy interventions on health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia patients: A randomized controlled trial - PubMed
“Based on these findings, whole body cryotherapy can be recommended as an effective clinically adjuvant approach in the improvement of health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia patients.”
There is a correction of the study linked above here: Corrigendum to “Effect of whole body cryotherapy interventions on health-related quality of life in fibromyalgia patients: A randomized controlled trial” [Complement. Ther. Med. 36 (2018) 6–8] - ScienceDirect
3 old studies, interestingly all from Germany, 2000, 2000 and 1992.
Germany 2000, Offenbächer et al. Physical therapy in the treatment of fibromyalgia - PubMed Croytherapy is mentioned here as possibly helpful for FMS, along with PT, trigger point injection, massage, acupuncture, biofeedback, TENS, recommending a multidisciplinary approach. “Based on anecdotal evidence or small observational studies physiotherapy may reduce overloading of the muscle system, improve postural fatigue and positioning, and condition weak muscles. Modalities and whole body cryotherapy may reduce localized as well as generalized pain in short term. Trigger point injection may reduce pain originating from concomitant trigger points in selected FM patient. Massage may reduce muscle tension and may be prescribed as a adjunct with other therapeutic interventions. Acupuncture may reduce pain and increase pain threshold. Biofeedback may positively influence subjective and objective disease measures. TENS may reduce localized musculoskeletal pain in fibromyalgia. While there seems to be no single best treatment option, physical therapy seem to reduce disease consequences. Accordingly a multidisciplinary approach combining these therapies in a well balanced program may be the most promising strategy and is currently recommended in the treatment of fibromyalgia.”
Germany 2000, Metzger et al. [Whole-body cryotherapy in rehabilitation of patients with rheumatoid diseases--pilot study] - PubMed “According to the results of our study, there is evidence that the whole-body cold therapy generates important short-term effects and somewhat weaker effects over the treatment period as a whole. Short-term pain reduction facilitates intensive application of physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. The treatment procedure is practicable, and all in all well tolerated. From the patients’ point of view, whole-body cold therapy is an essential part of the rehabilitation programme.”
Germany, 1992, Samborski et al. [Intraindividual comparison of whole body cold therapy and warm treatment with hot packs in generalized tendomyopathy] - PubMed “Central inhibition of nociceptors as a result of an activation of A-delta system as well as a blockade of gamma-motoneurons are discussed to be a mechanism of action of whole-body cold therapy, resulting in a decrease in muscle tonus. Long-term studies are needed to determine, if there is any enduring effect of whole-body cold therapy on pain in the patients with generalized tendomyopathy.”