An Ice Vest, but Not Single-Hand Cooling, Is Effective at Reducing Thermo-Physiological Strain During Exercise Recovery in the Heat

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. 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 (T¯sk), heart rate (HR), and thermal sensation (TS), as well as mean body temperature (T¯b), and heat storage (S) were calculated for exercise, REC0−15 and REC0−60. 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 T¯sk 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 T¯b (−0.38 [−0.69 to −0.07]°C, p = 0.012) and T¯sk (−1.62 [−2.56 to −0.68]°C, p < 0.0001) were greater with ice vest compared to no cooling. Furthermore, changes in in T¯b (−0.39 [−0.70 to −0.08]°C, p = 0.010) and T¯sk (−1.68 [−2.61 to −0.74]°C, p < 0.0001) were greater with the ice vest compared to single-hand cooling. 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.

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Cooling Between Exercise Bouts and Post-exercise With the Fan Cooling Jacket on Thermal Strain in Hot-Humid Environments

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.640400 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Hidenori Otani ◽

Makoto Fukuda ◽

Takehiro Tagawa

Keyword(s):

Thermal Sensation ◽

Recovery Period ◽

Thermal Strain ◽

Tympanic Temperature ◽

Exercise Recovery ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Fan Cooling ◽

Cooling Jacket ◽

Post Exercise Recovery ◽

Skin Temperatures

This study investigated the effects of cooling between exercise bouts and post-exercise with a commercially available fan cooling jacket on thermal and perceptual responses during and following exercise in hot-humid environments. Ten male athletes completed two 30 min cycling bouts at a constant workload (1.4 watts⋅kg–1 of body mass) with a 5 min recovery period in between. Exercise was followed by a 10 min recovery period. In an environmental chamber (33°C, 65% relative humidity), participants performed two trials with (FCJ) or without (CON) the fan cooling jacket on a T-shirt during the 5 min inter-exercise and 10 min post-exercise recovery periods. Mean, chest and upper arm skin temperatures, and thermal sensation and comfort were lower in FCJ than CON trial during and following exercise (P < 0.05). Thigh and calf skin temperatures, infrared tympanic temperature and heart rate were lower in FCJ than CON trial during the experimental trials (P < 0.05). The rates of fall in mean, chest and upper arm skin temperatures, infrared tympanic temperature and thermal sensation and comfort were faster in FCJ than CON trial during both recovery periods (P < 0.05). There were faster rates of fall in thigh and calf skin temperatures and heart rate in FCJ than CON trial during the post-exercise recovery period (P < 0.05). No difference was observed between trials in the rating of perceived exertion (P > 0.05). This study indicates that cooling between exercise bouts and post-exercise with the fan cooling jacket would effectively mitigate thermal strain and perception/discomfort during and following exercise in hot-humid environments. This garment would reduce whole-body skin temperature quickly while promoting falls in lower-body as well as upper-body skin temperatures.

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Post-Exercise Recovery: Fundamental and Interventional Physiology

10.3389/978-2-88919-855-9 ◽

2016 ◽

Keyword(s):

Exercise Recovery ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Post Exercise Recovery

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Relationship of Carbohydrate Intake during a Single-Stage One-Day Ultra-Trail Race with Fatigue Outcomes and Gastrointestinal Problems: A Systematic Review

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115737 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5737

Author(s):

Soledad Arribalzaga ◽

Aitor Viribay ◽

Julio Calleja-González ◽

Diego Fernández-Lázaro ◽

Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Single Stage ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Exercise Recovery ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Exercise Load ◽

Gi Symptoms ◽

Gastrointestinal Problems ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Post Exercise Recovery

Due to the high metabolic and physical demands in single-stage one-day ultra-trail (SOUT) races, athletes should be properly prepared in both physical and nutritional aspects in order to delay fatigue and avoid associated difficulties. However, high carbohydrate (CHO) intake would seem to increase gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The main purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate CHO intake during SOUT events as well as its relationship with fatigue (in terms of internal exercise load, exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and post-exercise recovery) and GI problems. A structured search was carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines in the following: Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases up to 16 March 2021. After conducting the search and applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, eight articles in total were included in this systematic review, in all of which CHO intake involved gels, energy bars and sports drinks. Two studies associated higher CHO consumption (120 g/h) with an improvement in internal exercise load. Likewise, these studies observed that SOUT runners whose intake was 120 g/h could benefit by limiting the EIMD observed by CK (creatine kinase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and GOT (aspartate aminotransferase), and also improve recovery of high intensity running capacity 24 h after a trail marathon. In six studies, athletes had GI symptoms between 65–82%. In summary, most of the runners did not meet CHO intake standard recommendations for SOUT events (90 g/h), while athletes who consumed more CHO experienced a reduction in internal exercise load, limited EIMD and improvement in post-exercise recovery. Conversely, the GI symptoms were recurrent in SOUT athletes depending on altitude, environmental conditions and running speed. Therefore, a high CHO intake during SOUT events is important to delay fatigue and avoid GI complications, and to ensure high intake, it is necessary to implement intestinal training protocols.

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