The benefits of daily full-body cryostimulation, or exposure to extreme cold, have been shown to improve sleep quality and mood in healthy young men and women, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Université de Montreal and Université de Poitiers in France.
Lead researcher Dupuy, an associate professor at UdeM’s School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, highlighted the historical use of cold for therapeutic purposes, dating back to ancient Greece. However, the optimal amount of cold needed to produce sleep benefits has remained unclear.
The study, published in the journal Cryobiology, involved nine women and 11 men with an average age of 23 who underwent daily cryostimulation sessions for five consecutive days. Each session consisted of spending five minutes in a chamber cooled to -90°C, with participants wearing protective gear to shield their extremities from the intense cold.
Following the cryostimulation sessions, participants went about their daily activities until bedtime, avoiding alcohol consumption and any activities that could impact their sleep. They were then monitored using brain activity sensors, wrist actigraphs, and heart-rate sensors to measure the effects of cryostimulation on their physiology and sleep patterns. Additionally, each morning, participants completed a questionnaire to assess perceived sleep quality.
The results revealed that the benefits of improved sleep quality were only observed after five consecutive cryostimulation sessions. The analysis of sleep architecture showed a significant increase in the duration of slow-wave sleep during nights following cryostimulation, which is considered the most restorative phase of sleep.
Interestingly, the study also found gender differences, with women experiencing greater benefits from cryostimulation compared to men. Women reported improvements in perceived sleep quality and reduced anxiety levels after the cryostimulation sessions.
Dupuy noted that while the observed changes may seem subtle, they hold promise for various applications. Cryostimulation could potentially aid in recovery for elite athletes and benefit individuals with sleep problems, chronic inflammation, or mild dementia when combined with physical exercise.
The study forms part of a broader research program on cryostimulation, with future investigations focusing on the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of its clinical benefits. The findings suggest that cryostimulation is not merely a placebo effect, as similar positive effects have been observed in elite athletes.
With the promising results of this study, cryostimulation may find its way into clinical settings in the fields of medicine, kinesiology, and physiotherapy. Further research and exploration are needed to fully understand the potential of cryostimulation in enhancing sleep quality and overall well-being.
