Whole‐Body Cryotherapy for Symptom Management in Multiple Sclerosis: A Comparative Study with Follow‐up

Background/Objectives: Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) is widely recognized for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects. Despite growing interest in its therapeutic potential, the impact of WBC on functional performance, pain perception, sleep quality and quality of life among indi-viduals with multiple sclerosis (MS) remains underexplored. This study aimed to assess the ef-fects of a 10-session WBC protocol on functional and psychological parameters in patients with MS and compare them with individuals without neurological disorders. Methods: A total of 73 participants, divided into two groups: non-neurological individuals (non-MS, n=43) and patients with MS (MS, n=30), underwent 10 WBC sessions (-120 °C to -130 °C) over two weeks. Assess-ments included the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), 30-Second Chair Stand Test (30CTS), Timed-Up-and-Go Test (TUG), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, WHOQOL-Bref conducted pre-treatment, post-treatment, and at 10-day follow-up. Results: In the MS group, significant im-provements were observed post-treatment in NRS, 30CTS, WHOQOL-1, and PSQI. However, only CTS and WHOQOL-3 maintained improvements during follow-up. In the non-MS group, statis-tically significant improvements were observed post-treatment across most parameters, except for NRS and WHOQOL-3, with most effects diminishing by follow-up. No deterioration in any assessed parameters was observed in either group. Conclusions: WBC demonstrates potential benefits for managing MS symptoms, particularly pain and sleep quality, with no observed dete-rioration in parameters and some effects emerging only during follow-up, underscoring its safety and the need for further research on long-term outcomes.