Effects of Half-Time Cooling Using a Fan with Skin Wetting on Thermal Response During Intermittent Cycling Exercise in the Heat.
Sports Med Int Open 2021;
5:E91-E98. [PMID:
34729393 PMCID:
PMC8556071 DOI:
10.1055/a-1588-3126]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of half-time (HT) break cooling using
a fan and damp sponge on physiological and perceptual responses during the
2
nd
half of a repeated-sprint exercise in a hot environment.
Eight physically active men performed a familiarization trial and two
experimental trials of a 2×30-min intermittent cycling exercise protocol
with a 15-min HT break in hot conditions (35°C, 50% relative
humidity). Two experimental trials were conducted in random order: skin wetting
with a fan (FAN
wet
) and no cooling (CON). During the 2
nd
half, a repeated-sprint cycling exercise was performed: i. e.,
5 s of maximal pedaling (body weight×0.075 kp) every
minute, separated by 25 s of unloaded pedaling (80 rpm) and
30 s of rest. Rectal temperature, skin temperature (chest, forearm,
thigh, and calf), heart rate, physiological strain index, rating of perceived
exertion, thermal sensation, and comfort were significantly improved in the
FAN
wet
condition (P<0.05). There was no significant
difference in the repeated-sprint cycling exercise performance between
conditions. The results suggest that skin wetting with a fan during the HT break
is a practical and effective cooling strategy for mitigating physiological and
perceptual strain during the 2
nd
half in hot conditions.
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