Body equilibrium assessment in patients with degenerative changes after whole-body cryostimulation connected with physiotherapy

Marek Kiljański, Zbigniew Śliwiński, Wojciech Kufel, Wojciech Kiebzak, Marek Woszczak

Marek Kiljański, Zbigniew Śliwiński, Wojciech Kufel, Wojciech Kiebzak, Marek Woszczak – Body equilibrium assessment in patients with degenerative changes after whole-body cryostimulation connected with physiotherapy. Fizjoterapia Polska 2007; 7(3); 286-298

Abstract
Background. The authors present the results obtained in a group of 126 participants. The aim of the study was to determine whether a four-week program of physiotherapy including whole-body cryostimulation, applied in patients with degenerative changes in the spine, influences their body equilibrium and pain sensation. Material and methods. The examined group comprised 66 patients with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, while the control group consisted of 60 participants. Apart from an individually designed rehabilitation program, each patient participated in 20 sessions of whole-body cryostimulation. The measurement of lumbosacral spine mobility and the assessment of pain sensation using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were performed before the first and after the last session. Moreover, after the first, tenth and twentieth session of general cryostimulation, measurements on a stabilometric platform were conducted. The healthy participants, who were qualified as the control group, underwent tests on the stabilometric platform after one session in the cryogenic chamber. The aim of these tests was to compare the differences in the stabilogram curve in healthy individuals and patients with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine. The effect of cryostimulation procedures on pain sensation and mobility of the lumbosacral spine was assessed. Additionally, the effect of cryogenic temperatures on body equilibrium was studied. Results. The comparison of the results, obtained before the procedure and after completing the therapy indicates that general cryostimulation in a physiotherapeutic program for patients with degenerative changes in the lumbar spine contributes to relaxation of excessively tense muscles. Conclusions. The use of whole body cryostimulation in patients with degenerative changes in the lumbosacral spine, combined with a properly designed and managed physiotherapeutic program, decreases pain sensation in a statistically significant way. The application of cryogenic temperatures, combined with physiotherapeutic program, favourably affect patient body equilibrium.
Słowa kluczowe
physiotherapy, spine, cryostimulation, coordination, stabilometric platform
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