Effects of whole-body cryotherapy and static stretching are maintained 4 weeks after treatment in most patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. — CFSMEATLAS
Effects of whole-body cryotherapy and static stretching are maintained 4 weeks after treatment in most patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Kujawski, Sławomir, Zalewski, Paweł, Godlewska, Beata R et al. · Cryobiology · 2023 · DOI
Quick Summary
This small study looked at whether a treatment combining cold therapy (whole-body cryotherapy) and stretching could help ME/CFS patients feel better for at least a month. Researchers found that 17 out of 22 patients reported improvements in fatigue, and brain function tests also improved. However, the study was small and had some dropouts, so the results should be viewed with caution.
Why It Matters
ME/CFS patients struggle with persistent fatigue and cognitive dysfunction with few proven treatments. This study suggests a combined physical therapy approach may provide lasting symptomatic relief, which could offer patients a potential therapeutic option. Additionally, the findings regarding autonomic nervous system improvements align with growing evidence that ME/CFS involves dysautonomia.
Observed Findings
Cognitive function measures (TMT A, TMT B, TMT B-A, and Coding) improved at one month post-treatment.
Fatigue scale improvements were documented in 17 of 22 patients (CFQ, FIS, FSS).
Peripheral and aortic systolic blood pressure decreased one month after treatment compared to baseline.
WBC + SS increased sympathetic nervous system activity at rest and produced positive chronotropic cardiac effects.
Ten patients were lost to follow-up and excluded from the final analysis.
Inferred Conclusions
Effects of WBC + SS on fatigue reduction, aortic stiffness indicators, and autonomic nervous system symptoms were sustained at one month post-treatment.
Cognitive function improvements were maintained at the one-month follow-up assessment.
The overall effects should be interpreted with caution due to methodological limitations including study design and loss to follow-up.
Remaining Questions
Would a randomized controlled trial with a placebo or active control group demonstrate that improvements are specifically due to cryotherapy and stretching?
How long do improvements persist beyond one month, and do they eventually fade?
What This Study Does Not Prove
This study does not prove that cryotherapy plus stretching is an effective ME/CFS treatment—it was observational with no control group, making it impossible to separate real treatment effects from placebo response or natural variation. The high dropout rate (10 patients) and small sample size limit generalizability. The study cannot establish whether improvements would persist beyond one month.