A Comparison of 2 Practical Cooling Methods on Cycling Capacity in the Heat

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Comparison of 2 Practical Cooling Methods on Cycling Capacity in the Heat

AU - Cuttell, Saul A

AU - Kiri, Victor

AU - Tyler, Christopher

PY - 2016/8/29

Y1 - 2016/8/29

N2 - CONTEXT:   Cooling the torso and neck can improve exercise performance and capacity in a hot environment; however, the proposed mechanisms for the improvements often differ.OBJECTIVE:   To directly compare the effects of cooling the neck and torso region using commercially available devices on exercise capacity in a hot environment (temperature = 35°C ± 0.1°C, relative humidity = 50.1% ± 0.7%).DESIGN:   Crossover study.SETTING:   Laboratory.PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS:   Eight recreationally active, nonheat-acclimated men (age = 24 ± 4 years, height = 1.82 ± 0.10 m, mass = 80.3 ± 9.7 kg, maximal power output = 240 ± 25 W).INTERVENTION(S):   Three cycling capacity tests at 60% maximal power output to volitional exhaustion: 1 with no cooling (NC), 1 with vest cooling (VC), and 1 with a neck cooling collar (CC).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):   Time to volitional exhaustion, rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, torso and neck skin temperature, body mass, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and feeling scale were measured.RESULTS:   Participants cycled longer with VC (32.2 ± 9.5 minutes) than NC (27. 6 ± 7.6 minutes; P = .03; d = 0.54) or CC (30.0 ± 8.8 minutes; P = .02; d = 0.24). We observed no difference between NC and CC (P = .12; d = 0.31). Neck and torso temperature and perceived thermal sensation were reduced with the use of cooling modalities (P < .001), but no other variables were affected.CONCLUSIONS:   Cycling capacity in the heat improved when participants used a commercially available cooling vest, but we observed no benefit from wearing a commercially available CC. The vest and the collar did not alter the heart rate, rectal temperature, skin temperature, or sweat-loss responses to the cycling bout.

AB - CONTEXT:   Cooling the torso and neck can improve exercise performance and capacity in a hot environment; however, the proposed mechanisms for the improvements often differ.OBJECTIVE:   To directly compare the effects of cooling the neck and torso region using commercially available devices on exercise capacity in a hot environment (temperature = 35°C ± 0.1°C, relative humidity = 50.1% ± 0.7%).DESIGN:   Crossover study.SETTING:   Laboratory.PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS:   Eight recreationally active, nonheat-acclimated men (age = 24 ± 4 years, height = 1.82 ± 0.10 m, mass = 80.3 ± 9.7 kg, maximal power output = 240 ± 25 W).INTERVENTION(S):   Three cycling capacity tests at 60% maximal power output to volitional exhaustion: 1 with no cooling (NC), 1 with vest cooling (VC), and 1 with a neck cooling collar (CC).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S):   Time to volitional exhaustion, rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, torso and neck skin temperature, body mass, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and feeling scale were measured.RESULTS:   Participants cycled longer with VC (32.2 ± 9.5 minutes) than NC (27. 6 ± 7.6 minutes; P = .03; d = 0.54) or CC (30.0 ± 8.8 minutes; P = .02; d = 0.24). We observed no difference between NC and CC (P = .12; d = 0.31). Neck and torso temperature and perceived thermal sensation were reduced with the use of cooling modalities (P < .001), but no other variables were affected.CONCLUSIONS:   Cycling capacity in the heat improved when participants used a commercially available cooling vest, but we observed no benefit from wearing a commercially available CC. The vest and the collar did not alter the heart rate, rectal temperature, skin temperature, or sweat-loss responses to the cycling bout.

U2 - 10.4085/1062-6050-51.8.07

DO - 10.4085/1062-6050-51.8.07

M3 - Article

C2 - 27571045

SN - 1062-6050

JO - Journal of Athletic Training

JF - Journal of Athletic Training

ER -