Cryotherapy Resources
The use of cryotherapy along with cancer treatments is an ongoing research topic. Below you will find some research references, journal articles and publications that help support the practice of icing.
Efficiency of controlled cryotherapy in prevention of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)
Hilotherapy® during chemotherapy can protect your nerves. Most patients (93%) avoided serious nerve side effects. Only a few (7%) had temporary moderate symptoms, which went away. Four months after treatment, nearly everyone had no or only mild symptoms, and no chemotherapy doses needed to be changed.
Hilotherapy® is a treatment that gently cools your hands and feet during chemotherapy to help protect your nerves and reduce the risk of nerve-related side effects.
Efficacy of Oral Cryotherapy During Oxaliplatin Infusion in Preventing Oral Thermal Hyperalgesia: A Randomized Trial
Results of our study show that oral cryotherapy during oxaliplatin infusion has the potential to reduce OTH and PN symptoms caused by this chemotherapy, at least during early cycles of treatment. Reduction in OTH has the potential to improve the quality of life in patients undergoing oxaliplatin treatment.
Cryotherapy for prevention of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer
Protect Your Hands and Feet During Chemotherapy
Some chemotherapy drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy, leading to tingling, numbness, or pain in your hands and feet. While there’s no cure, ice packs or cooling gloves/socks during treatment may help reduce nerve damage.
What you should know:
Small studies suggest icing might help, but results are mixed.
Most evidence is for taxane chemotherapy used in breast cancer.
Ice packs are low-cost and generally safe, but should be used carefully: wrap them in a cloth and check your skin often.
Key takeaway: Using ice during chemotherapy may offer simple, low-risk nerve protection, but always talk with your care team before trying it.
A randomized controlled trial of hand/foot-cooling by hilotherapy to prevent oxaliplatin-related peripheral neuropathy in patients with malignancies of the digestive system
A study found that gently cooling the hands and feet during oxaliplatin chemotherapy using Hilotherapy® helped prevent nerve damage. After 12 weeks, no patients who used cooling developed moderate or severe neuropathy, compared to 1 in 5 without cooling. Patients also reported less tingling, pain, and cold sensitivity, and most found the treatment comfortable. Cooling therapy may help protect nerves, ease side effects, and support patients in completing their chemotherapy.
The Use Cryotherapy in the Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Oral Mucositis
"The evidence supports the current recommendation of using oral cryotherapy to prevent oral mucositis in patients receiving chemotherapy.⁵ Focusing on the prevention of oral mucositis is one way to improve a patient’s quality of life. As noted, ulcerative lesions have been shown to cause severe pain and lead to oral bleeding, increase the risk of infection, damage taste receptors, compromise oral function, contribute to malnutrition, and in some cases, increase or prolong hospitalization."