Cooling during exercise in temperate conditions: impact on performance and thermoregulation.
Exercise-induced increase in core body temperature may lead to the development of hyperthermia (>40.0°C) and/or decreased performance levels. This study examined the effects of wearing a cooling vest during a 5-km time trial on thermoregulatory responses and performance. 10 male masters athletes (42±10 years) performed a 5-km time trial on a motorized treadmill in a climate chamber (25°C, 55% relative humidity) with and without a cooling vest. Split times, heart rate, core-, skin- and cooling vest temperature were measured every 500 m. Subjects also rated thermal comfort and level of perceived exertion. The cooling vest significantly decreased heart rate (p<0.05), decreased skin temperature (p<0.001) and improved thermal comfort (p<0.005) during the time trial. Time to finish the 5-km time trial and pacing strategy did not differ between the control (1 246±96 s) and cooling vest condition (1 254±98 s, p=0.85). Additionally, thermoregulatory responses, maximum core body temperature and level of perceived exertion were not different across conditions (p=0.85, p=0.49, p=0.11, respectively). In conclusion, we demonstrated that wearing a cooling vest during exercise improves thermal comfort but does not enhance performance or decrease core body temperature in male masters athletes under temperate ambient conditions.
Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
T M H
TM
Eijsvogels
Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
C C W G
CC
Bongers
Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
M T W
MT
Veltmeijer
NOC*NSF, medical staff, Papendal, The Netherlands.
M H
MH
Moen
Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
M
M
Hopman
D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D003020:Clothing; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013696:Temperature
D019344:Lactic Acid