PMID 31427654

Research
All papers

Whole-body cryotherapy does not augment adaptations to high-intensity interval training

Broatch JR, Poignard M, Hausswirth C, Bishop DJ, Bieuzen F

Question

Does repeated whole-body cryotherapy after cycling HIT augment endurance and physiological adaptations compared with passive seated rest?

Summary

In trained male cyclists and triathletes, adding 3 minutes of whole-body cryotherapy after cycling intervals did not improve training adaptations beyond the interval training itself.

Methodology

  • Healthy well-trained or recreational male cyclists and triathletes.
  • 22 participants.
  • cycling.
  • Work intervals: 60% of baseline Tmax, mean 172.8 +/- 32.8 s.
  • Recovery: 1:2 work:rest ratio, about 345.6 s mean recovery.
  • Intensity: workload equal to baseline Ppeak.
  • interval duration individualized; post-session WBC lasted 3 min about 15 min after training.
  • 12 HIT sessions over 4 weeks.
  • 4 weeks.
  • randomized/counterbalanced parallel training intervention
  • Peak power, VO2peak, 20 km time trial, and Hormones and sleep were tracked.

Outcomes

Ppeak

Peak power improved over time in both groups with no added cryotherapy effect.

CON +6.3 +/- 3.7%; WBC +5.9 +/- 4.9%; condition interaction p=0.988

Improved

VO2peak

VO2peak improved over time, but whole-body cryotherapy did not augment the response.

CON +5.0 +/- 5.6%; WBC +8.0 +/- 7.9%; interaction p=0.402

Improved

20 km power

Time-trial mean power improved similarly in both groups.

CON +8.4 +/- 7.0%; WBC +6.9 +/- 7.5%; time p=0.002; interaction for power p=0.644

Improved

Recovery markers

Basal stress hormones and sleep did not show meaningful cryotherapy-related changes.

No WBC interactions for basal adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol, or sleep outcomes

No clear change

Insights

  • The cycling HIT dose improved fitness and time-trial power in trained men.
  • Post-session whole-body cryotherapy should not be presented as a necessary enhancer of HIT adaptation.
  • Independent training was feasible when investigators monitored uploaded power/GPS files.

Limitations

  • Small male endurance-athlete sample.
  • Two participants began but dropped out because of availability/training sessions.
  • No muscle biopsies or mitochondrial protein outcomes.
  • The 3 min cryotherapy dose may not represent all cold-exposure protocols.

Safety

  • Participants were screened and medically cleared for WBC; two began but dropped due availability/training sessions, not reported as adverse events.