An Ice Vest, but Not Single-Hand Cooling, Is Effective at Reducing Thermo-Physiological Strain During Exercise Recovery in the Heat
Seeley, A. D., & Sherman, R. A. (2021). An Ice Vest, but Not Single-Hand Cooling, Is Effective at Reducing Thermo-Physiological Strain During Exercise Recovery in the Heat. Frontiers in sports and active living, 3, 660910. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.660910
Introduction: Sports limit the length of breaks between halves or periods, placing substantial time constraints on cooling effectiveness. This study investigated the effect of active cooling during both time-limited and prolonged post-exercise recovery in the heat.
Methods: Ten recreationally-active adults (VO2peak 43.6 ± 7.5 ml·kg−1·min−1) were exposed to thermally-challenging conditions (36°C air temperature, 45% RH) while passively seated for 30 min, cycling for 60 min at 51% VO2peak, and during a seated recovery for 60 min that was broken into two epochs: first 15 min (REC0−15) and total 60 min (REC0−60). Three different cooling techniques were implemented during independent recovery trials: (a) negative-pressure single hand-cooling (~17°C); (b) ice vest; and (c) non-cooling control. Change in rectal temperature (Tre), mean skin temperature (¯¯¯¯Tsk), heart rate (HR), and thermal sensation (TS), as well as mean body temperature (¯¯¯¯Tb), and heat storage (S) were calculated for exercise, REC0−15 and REC0−60.
Results: During REC0−15, HR was lowered more with the ice vest (−9 [−15 to −3] bts·min−1, p = 0.002) and single hand-cooling (−7 [−13 to −1] bts·min−1, p = 0.021) compared to a non-cooling control. The ice vest caused a greater change in ¯¯¯¯Tsk compared to no cooling (−1.07 [−2.00 to −0.13]°C, p = 0.021) and single-hand cooling (−1.07 [−2.01 to −0.14]°C, p = 0.020), as well as a greater change in S compared to no cooling (−84 [−132 to −37] W, p < 0.0001) and single-hand cooling (−74 [−125 to −24] W, p = 0.002). Across REC0−60, changes in ¯¯¯¯Tb (−0.38 [−0.69 to −0.07]°C, p = 0.012) and ¯¯¯¯Tsk (−1.62 [−2.56 to −0.68]°C, p < 0.0001) were greater with ice vest compared to no cooling. Furthermore, changes in in ¯¯¯¯Tb (−0.39 [−0.70 to −0.08]°C, p = 0.010) and ¯¯¯¯Tsk (−1.68 [−2.61 to −0.74]°C, p < 0.0001) were greater with the ice vest compared to single-hand cooling.
Conclusion: Using an ice vest during time-limited and prolonged recovery in the heat aided in a more effective reduction in thermo-physiological strain compared to both passive cooling as well as a single-hand cooling device.
Keywords: exercise in heat, thermoregulation, post-exercise recovery, skin temperature, heat storage, core temperature, sport
In Simple Terms:
This study tested how well different cooling methods helped people recover after cycling in the heat. Using an ice vest lowered body temperature and heart rate more than just resting or cooling one hand. The ice vest worked better in both short and long recovery times. Cooling the whole body helped more than cooling just one part.
Uploaded by Braeden Ostepchuk, creator of the CEU-approved course 0th Law of Physiology, co-founder of Kuhler Technologies, and inventor of Kühler.