PRE-COOLING DOES NOT IMPROVE SPRINT PERFORMANCE IN TEMPERATE ENVIRONMENTS
Cheung, S. S. (2003). Wingate sprinting performance in temperate environments following upper body pre-cooling. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(5), Supplement abstract 157.
The effects of upper-body pre-cooling before intermittent sprinting exercise in a temperate environment were investigated. Male and female cyclists (N = 10) performed 30-min of cycling at 50% VO2max. At 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes into the exercise, a 10-s Wingate sprint was performed. In a control condition, Ss rested for 30 minutes before exercise. In pre-cooling, Ss wore the hood and upper body segment of a liquid cooling garment for either 75 minutes or until core temperature decreased by 0.5oC. No warm-ups occurred.
Rectal temperature started lower and remained lower in the pre-cooled condition than in the control condition throughout the exercise. Skin temperature was lower in the pre-cooled condition at the start of exercise but the difference between the conditions disappeared within five minutes. Heart rate was mostly similar between the two conditions although following the sprints it was lower in the pre-cooled condition. Perceived exertion, thermal sensations, and peak power were similar between conditions.
Implication. Pre-cooling did not provide any sprint performance benefit in a temperate environment.
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