Verme Federica, Fontana Jacopo Maria, Piterà Paolo, Alito Angelo, Saffioti Silvia, Baccalaro Gabriele, Zebellin Giuliano, Capodaglio Paolo
Research Laboratory in Biomechanics, Rehabilitation and Ergonomics, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, San Giuseppe Hospital, Piancavallo, 28824 Verbania, Italy.
Department of Biomedical, Dental Sciences and Morphological and Functional Images, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy.
Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Dec 28;12(1):71. doi: 10.3390/healthcare12010071.
Functional neurological disorders (FNDs) are complex disabling conditions requiring a multiple rehabilitation intervention. Here, we propose a new use of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) that was implemented in a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme in a wheelchair-ridden woman diagnosed with FND and other comorbidities. WBC is a promising adjuvant treatment in various conditions of rehabilitation interest, mainly because of its wide range of rapid effects, from anti-inflammatory to pain and autonomic modulating effects. The 4-week program included physiotherapy, nutritional intervention, psychological support, and WBC (-110 °C for 2 min). Questionnaires to assess disease impact, pain level, fatigue and sleep quality were administered. At discharge, improvements in body composition, haematological biomarkers, physical performance, and questionnaire scores were observed. The patient was able to walk independently with a walker for medium distances and reported unprecedented improvements, particularly in functional parameters and questionnaire scores. Although the extent to which WBC per se contributed to the measured improvements cannot be ascertained, subjective reports and our clinical observations indicate that WBC, the only intervention not previously experienced by the patient, acted as a booster for the rehabilitation interventions. Further research will be necessary to rule out any possible placebo effect and to confirm the effects of WBC on FND.
功能性神经障碍（FNDs）是需要多种康复干预的复杂致残性疾病。在此，我们提出全身冷冻刺激（WBC）的一种新用途，其应用于一名被诊断患有FND及其他合并症的轮椅使用者的多学科康复计划中。WBC在各种康复相关病症中是一种有前景的辅助治疗方法，主要是因为其具有广泛的快速效应，从抗炎到止痛以及自主神经调节作用。为期4周的计划包括物理治疗、营养干预、心理支持和WBC（-110°C，持续2分钟）。使用问卷评估疾病影响、疼痛程度、疲劳和睡眠质量。出院时，观察到身体成分、血液生物标志物、身体机能和问卷得分有所改善。患者能够借助助行器独立行走中等距离，并报告了前所未有的改善，特别是在功能参数和问卷得分方面。尽管无法确定WBC本身对所测改善的贡献程度，但主观报告和我们的临床观察表明，WBC作为患者之前未曾经历过的唯一干预措施，对康复干预起到了促进作用。有必要进行进一步研究以排除任何可能的安慰剂效应，并确认WBC对FND的影响。
