Risks

Despite a huge number of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) sessions performed worldwide, adverse events appear to be rare in relation to the extent to which WBC has grown worldwide. Part of the reason for this is, on one side, the precautionary measures taken over the last two decades for safety and, on the other side, the fact that not all studies have undertaken active surveillance of predefined adverse events. Finally, one can also suspect that the relatively low number of documented adverse events may result from the lack of reporting. The level of scientific evidence of serious adverse events related to the use of WBC is still low to date, limited to published case reports. Consideration of medical contraindications before involving any subject in a WBC program remains crucial. Some of the reported adverse reactions to WBC could have been prevented with a better understanding or better application of the internationally acknowledged recommendations. It is difficult at present to reach a definitive conclusion on possible risks associated with WBC. The International Institute of Refrigeration Working Group on Whole Body Cryotherapy/Cryostimulation is actively working on the development and update of safety guidelines using evidence-based information.