Whole-body cryostimulation (W-BC) is commonly used following exercise to accelerate recovery or as a form of therapy to prevent and cure sports injuries. This study aimed to investigate the effect of a series of 24 W-BC sessions on morphological and rheological blood indicators in physically active men. Eighteen physically active men participated in the study (mean age 22.1 ± 0.07). They were divided into two groups depending on their self-reported levels of physical activity: moderate or high physical activity. The participants completed a total of 24 W-BC sessions every second day, over a span of two months. Blood was collected at baseline, immediately after and 24 h after the first treatment, before and after the 12th treatment, before, immediately after, and 24 h after the 24th treatment, and one, two, three, and four weeks after the 24th treatment. Rheological and morphological indicators of blood were examined. The number of leukocytes was decreased in the moderate activity group (p < 0.05) but not in the high intensity group, following the first W-BC session. There were no significant changes in elongation index (EI) at a shear stress of 2.19-31.04 (Pa) in both groups as well as at the following values: aggregation index (AI), the half time (T½) and the amplitude of aggregation (AMP) in both studied groups. Differences between the first and the 12th or the 24th session became apparent in some morphological indices in one or both groups. Changes in the morphological properties were not observed after the first exposure but became evident following repeated W-BC sessions.
Keywords: Blood cell morphology; Blood cells; Cooling; Healthy men; Whole-body cryostimulation.
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