The following is about cryo-sauna for MS. Summer 2025 is once again very hot – a strain for everyone, there is a constant desire for cooling. This is especially true for those affected by MS. Although not everyone affected by MS suffers equally from high outdoor temperatures, high temperatures can exacerbate the symptoms of the disease, e.g. an increase in spasticity or fatigue – a phenomenon known as the Uhthoff phenomenon.
Cryo-sauna – what’s the point?
Among the possible cooling strategies, a method often comes up that is called “whole body cryotherapy” (WBC), in German Ganzkörper-Kältetherapie. I even saw a report about it on Tagesschau recently.
WBC is a procedure in which the entire body is exposed to temperatures of -110 °C to -160 °C for a short time (typically 2–4 minutes), i.e. extremely low temperatures, which are achieved using liquid nitrogen. The application takes place in special cold chambers, which are offered by fitness studios/wellness facilities or REHA centers, but also increasingly by specialized “cryo-centers”.
The concept originally comes from competitive sports – the aim is to reduce muscle complaints through the cold application and shorten the recovery time after intense strain. – Many will probably remember Per Mertesacker and the ice barrel after the 2014 World Cup game against Algeria.
Applications of cryotherapy
In the meantime, however, the concept has also been extended to other indications and is offered as a commercial service in pain therapy and a variety of chronic diseases. Accordingly, multiple sclerosis also appears as a “recommended” area of application for the WBC.
In principle, cold application is a plausible approach for MS. – Nerves conduct more slowly in the cold, reducing unpleasant and sometimes painful misperceptions, and spasticity and ataxia decrease. Mental performance improves after cooling.
The question, however, is whether it is useful and necessary to expose the body to extreme cold to achieve these effects. With WBC, there is a risk of frostbite (e.g. if the duration is too long or the skin is wet), although I do not want to overestimate this complication – in practical application, very little actually happens. Nevertheless, WBC is not suitable for everyone, especially people with cardiovascular diseases, uncontrolled high blood pressure, cold urticaria, open wounds, or respiratory diseases should avoid the therapy.
Desired: scientific evidence for cold chambers
Furthermore, a major criticism is that the effect of the WBC is not sufficiently proven by scientific evidence. The effects of extreme cooling are only short-term and would therefore – like all other cooling methods – need to be repeated regularly. But the method is relatively expensive – on the internet you can find price offers between 30 and 100 €, which have to be paid privately.
So, without question, cooling is a proven means for those affected by MS on hot days to alleviate symptoms or the Uhthoff phenomenon. – However, the question arises whether it really has to be this type of (media-inflated) cooling. The strategies recommended for years by neurologists and self-help organizations, such as simple cooling vests (with cooling packs), air conditioning units, regular intake of cold drinks, etc., are probably similarly effective and significantly cheaper – but of course not as “cool”.
This post was translated from German to English with the help of AI.
