Systemic Heat and Cold Therapies in Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine: Current Evidence and Applications

Thermal-based interventions have garnered growing scientific attention over the past two decades for their promising role in the functional recovery of individuals with sports-related injuries and a range of rehabilitation conditions. While preliminary evidence suggests beneficial effects of thermal modalities on rehabilitation outcomes, conclusive data are still lacking. Given their ability to modulate a broad spectrum of systemic responses—including cardiovascular, autonomic, endocrine-metabolic, and immunologic pathways—systemic heat and cold treatments may be especially relevant during the early phases of rehabilitation, when factors such as fear of movement, inflammation, deconditioning, and pain can impede progress.

This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current scientific landscape regarding the use of thermal-based approaches in clinical rehabilitation and sports medicine. We seek to highlight both established practices and ongoing clinical research exploring the therapeutic potential of these modalities across a variety of rehabilitation contexts. Additionally, we aim to review underlying physiological mechanisms, current therapeutic indications and contraindications, the feasibility of integrating thermal-based therapies into multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs, and existing knowledge gaps in the field.

We welcome submissions in the following areas:

-Original research on the application of systemic thermal-based interventions (e.g., whole-body cryostimulation, crenotherapy, Finnish sauna) across diverse rehabilitation settings and conditions.

-Reviews elucidating the physiological mechanisms and effects of thermal stress in the recovery from injuries, musculoskeletal, and neurological events.

-Randomised controlled trials and observational studies investigating the efficacy and safety of thermal-based treatments in rehabilitation.

-Expert opinion and perspective papers addressing clinical implementation, best practices, and future research directions in the application of thermal modalities in rehabilitation.