WHOLE -BODY CRYOTHERAPY, CURRENT TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Whole -body cryotherapy (WBC) and partial -body cryotherapy (PBC) are two methods of extreme cold exposure in specialised cold chamber or cabin. These therapies have recently been the subject of tremendous interest. The two most investigated domains are improvements in mental and physical health and improvements in recovery after physical exercise (Bouzigon, et al., 2016). The populations studied include patients suffering from traumatological, inflammatory or mental diseases, healthy and active individuals (from athletes to casual sportsman). The differences between the two methods involve the exclusion of the head in PBC treatment, different ways to create cold, and different device sizes and mobility possibilities, which can attract different populations of users. Thus, PBC is used more in the field with sport teams, and WBC is used more often in rehabilitation or athletic sport centres. The aim of this presentation is to review the current technologies and practical applications of whole- and partial -body cryotherapy.