Whole-Body Cryotherapy and Isokinetic Performance After Exercise-Induced Fatigue

NCT07617857 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024/1567
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized crossover study investigated the effects of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on isokinetic knee performance following running-induced fatigue in physically active healthy male university students. Participants completed two recovery conditions, WBC and passive rest, on separate days following a standardized treadmill fatigue protocol. Knee extension and flexion strength were assessed using an isokinetic dynamometer at angular velocities of 60°/s and 240°/s. In addition, blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and perceived fatigue responses were monitored throughout the recovery period. The study aimed to determine whether WBC improves post-exercise recovery and lower-extremity muscle performance compared with passive rest.

Conditions

Exercise-Induced Fatigue; Recovery

Keywords

Whole-Body Cryotherapy; Cryotherapy; Exercise-Induced Fatigue; Recovery; Isokinetic Dynamometer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Peak Torque During Knee Extension and Flexion

  Assessment of isokinetic knee extension and flexion peak torque at 60°/s and 240°/s following whole-body cryotherapy and passive rest recovery conditions.

  Immediately after the 30-minute recovery period

• Peak Torque Normalized to Body Mass

  Assessment of body mass-normalized peak torque values during isokinetic knee extension and flexion testing at 60°/s and 240°/s.

  Immediately after the 30-minute recovery period

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• Heart Rate

  Baseline, immediately after exercise, and every 5 minutes during the 30-minute recovery period

• Blood Pressure

  Baseline, immediately after exercise, and every 5 minutes during the 30-minute recovery period

• Oxygen Saturation

  Baseline, immediately after exercise, and every 5 minutes during the 30-minute recovery period

• Perceived Fatigue

  Immediately after exercise, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes after exercise

Study Arms (2)

Whole-Body Cryotherapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants underwent whole-body cryotherapy following the running-induced fatigue protocol.

Procedure: Whole-Body Cryotherapy

Passive Rest

NO INTERVENTION

Participants completed passive seated rest following the running-induced fatigue protocol.

Interventions

Whole-Body Cryotherapy PROCEDURE

Participants underwent whole-body cryotherapy following a standardized running-induced fatigue protocol. The intervention was performed in a two-stage cryogenic chamber consisting of a 30-second adaptation phase at -30°C followed by a 3-minute exposure at -85°C.

Whole-Body Cryotherapy

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy male participants aged 18-30 years with no exercise limitation
• No history of knee or lower-extremity injury requiring physiotherapy or surgical intervention
• No current lower-extremity pain
• No limitation in lower-extremity range of motion
• No chronic disease
• No mental or psychological disorder

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of cardiovascular disease
• Presence of respiratory disease
• History of cold allergy
• Presence of a tumor-related disease
• Presence of a viral or bacterial infection
• Diagnosis of Raynaud's disease
• Presence of claustrophobia

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Biruni University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Istanbul University

Istanbul, Istanbul, 34000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (4)

• Krueger M, Costello JT, Achtzehn S, Dittmar KH, Mester J. Whole-body cryotherapy (-110 degrees C) following high-intensity intermittent exercise does not alter hormonal, inflammatory or muscle damage biomarkers in trained males. Cytokine. 2019 Jan;113:277-284. doi: 10.1016/j.cyto.2018.07.018. Epub 2018 Jul 19.

  PMID: 30031682 RESULT

• Abaidia AE, Lamblin J, Delecroix B, Leduc C, McCall A, Nedelec M, Dawson B, Baquet G, Dupont G. Recovery From Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: Cold-Water Immersion Versus Whole-Body Cryotherapy. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2017 Mar;12(3):402-409. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2016-0186. Epub 2016 Aug 24.

  PMID: 27396361 RESULT

• Wilson LJ, Cockburn E, Paice K, Sinclair S, Faki T, Hills FA, Gondek MB, Wood A, Dimitriou L. Recovery following a marathon: a comparison of cold water immersion, whole body cryotherapy and a placebo control. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2018 Jan;118(1):153-163. doi: 10.1007/s00421-017-3757-z. Epub 2017 Nov 10.

  PMID: 29127510 RESULT

• Rose C, Edwards KM, Siegler J, Graham K, Caillaud C. Whole-body Cryotherapy as a Recovery Technique after Exercise: A Review of the Literature. Int J Sports Med. 2017 Dec;38(14):1049-1060. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-114861. Epub 2017 Nov 21.

  PMID: 29161748 RESULT

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Participants completed both recovery conditions (whole-body cryotherapy and passive rest) in a randomized crossover manner on separate days following a standardized running-induced fatigue protocol. Each participant served as his own control, and sessions were separated by at least 48 hours.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 24, 2026
• First Posted: June 1, 2026
• Study Start: September 2, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2025
• Study Completion: May 1, 2025
• Last Updated: June 2, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)