Affective response to whole-body cryotherapy: Influence of sex, body mass index, age, time of day, and past experience

OBJECTIVE: Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC) has seen a recent surge in popularity with patients with inflammatory conditions, athletes, and even people seeking to improve general health and quality of life. WBC treatment usually requires participation in a dozen of 3-min long sessions. But compliance is considered difficult due to possible cold-induced unpleasant sensations. Based on hedonic psychology assumptions, ratings of pleasure-displeasure experienced during a taks or activity may be important to understand individual differences in attendance. METHODS: Two hundred fifty nine customers from two French cryocenters took the Feeling Scale immediately after their first WBC session. RESULTS: End affect appeared to be negatively valenced (M = -1.85, SD = 1.38, 95 % confidence interval: -2.02 to -1.68). Additional statistical analyses revealed a moderating influence of past experience, in women only. Similarly, BMI was found to be negatively associated with displeasure in women, but not in men. CONCLUSION: These findings are discussed and further research directions are suggested.