title: Influence of the ten sessions of the whole body cryostimulation on aerobic and anaerobic capacity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the influence of whole body cryostimulation on aerobic and anaerobic capacities.
  
  
  METHODS
  To test the hypothesis that whole body cryostimulation improves physical capacity, thirty subjects (fifteen males and fifteen females) undertook two ergocycle trials before and after the ten sessions of cryogenic chamber treatment. To assess baseline aerobic capacity, the progressive cycle ergometer test was applied. This allowed determination of maximal oxygen uptake and ventilatory thresholds. Twenty-second Wingate test was performed to assess baseline levels of anaerobic power. After finishing the treatments in the cryogenic chamber, the exercise protocol was repeated. Before the first, and after the last whole body cryostimulation, venous blood samples were drawn to determine basic blood values, including levels of erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes, hemoglobin concentration, and hematocrit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no changes in aerobic capacity, in both females and males, after ten sessions of 3-minute-long exposures to cryogenic temperature (-130 degrees C). Participation in the whole body cryostimulation caused an increase in maximal anaerobic power in males (from 11.1 to 11.9 W x kg(-1); P < 0.05), but not in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be concluded that whole body cryostimulation can be beneficial, at least in males, for increasing anaerobic capacity in sport disciplines involving speed and strength.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Physiology, Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, University School of Physical Education, Kraków, Poland. andrzej.klimek@awf.krakow.pl
authors.forename: Andrzej T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lubkowska
authors.forename: Zbigniew
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szyguła
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chudecka
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fraczek
mesh_terms: D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult