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Research Article: Whole Body Cryostimulation: A New Adjuvant Treatment in Central Sensitization Syndromes? An Expert Opinion

Date Published: 2024-02-25

Abstract:
Central sensitisation is defined as a multifactorial etiopathogenetic condition involving an increase in the reactivity of nociceptive neurons and alterations in pain transmission and perception in the central nervous system. Patients may present with widespread chronic pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, dizziness, psychological (e.g., depression, anxiety, and anger) and social impairment. Pain can be spontaneous in onset and persistence, characterised by an exaggerated response and spread beyond the site of origin, and sometimes triggered by a non-painful stimulus. Whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) could be an adjuvant therapy in the management of this type of pain because of its global anti-inflammatory effect, changes in cytokines and hormone secretion, reduction in nerve conduction velocity, autonomic modulation, and release of neurotransmitters involved in the pain pathway. In several conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic musculoskeletal pain), WBC affects physical performance, pain perception, and psychological aspects. Given its multiple targets and effects at different organs and levels, WBC appears to be a versatile adjuvant treatment for a wide range of conditions of rehabilitation interest. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of analgesic effect and potential actions on pain pathways, as well as to study long-term effects and potential uses in other chronic pain conditions.

Introduction:
Central sensitization (CS) is a multifactorial etiopathogenetic condition involving an increase in the reactivity of nociceptive neurons and alterations in pain transmission and perception in the central nervous system [1,2]. It results in hyperexcitability to noxious and non-noxious stimuli that act on structural plasticity, and may sensitise the central nociceptive system [3,4]. When CS occurs, neurons in the spinal cord become more responsive to peripheral input, such as below-threshold stimuli that would not…

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