Exposure to Cryogenic Temperature and Exercises And Changes in Blood Pressure

BACKGROUND: Cryotherapy is one of the methods used in physical medicine to achieve analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiedematous effects and to reduce muscle tension. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of systemic cryotherapy combined with kinesitherapy on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A group of 215 individuals of both sexes was selected and submitted to a two-week cycle of the systemic cryotherapy treatment combined with kinesiotherapy. RESULTS: The decrease of average values was observed in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. In the case of systolic blood pressure there was a significant decrease of average value from 125 mm Hg on the first day to the value of 121.7 mmHg on 10th treatment day. In the case of diastolic blood pressure a significant decrease in the average blood pressure value of 80 mmHg to a value of 76.8 mmHg was observed in the further course of treatment. CONCLUSION: One cryostimulation treatment causes a decrease of the average values of the systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure while the series of 10 treatments leads to stabilization of pressure. Stabilization of systolic blood pressure in men was significantly slower than in women, achieving statistically higher mean values. The women were more responsive to applied cryotherapy.