Acute effects of partial-body cryotherapy on isometric strength: maximum handgrip strength evaluation

ABSTRACTThe aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a single partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) session on the maximum handgrip strength (JAMAR Hydraulic Hand dynamometer). Two hundred healthy adults were randomized into a PBC group and a control group (50 males and 50 females in each group). After the initial handgrip strength test (T0), the experimental group performed a 150 seconds session of PBC (temperature range between -130 and -160 °C), whilst the control group stayed in a thermo neutral room (22.0 ± 0.5 °C). Immediately after, both groups performed another handgrip strength test (T1). Data underlined that both groups showed an increase in handgrip strength values, especially the experimental group (ControlT0=39.48 kg, T1=40.01 kg; PBCT0=39.61 kg, T1=41.34 kg). The analysis reported also a statistical effect related to gender (F=491.99, P