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. 2020 Oct 17;17(20):7559.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17207559.

The Impact of Wrist Percooling on Physiological and Perceptual Responses during a Running Time Trial Performance in the Heat

Kelsey Denby  1 , Ronald Caruso  1 , Emily Schlicht  1 , Stephen J Ives  1
Affiliations

The Impact of Wrist Percooling on Physiological and Perceptual Responses during a Running Time Trial Performance in the Heat

Kelsey Denby et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Environmental heat stress poses significant physiological challenge and impairs exercise performance. We investigated the impact of wrist percooling on running performance and physiological and perceptual responses in the heat. In a counterbalanced design, 13 trained males (33 ± 9 years, 15 ± 7% body fat, and maximal oxygen consumption, VO2max 59 ± 5 mL/kg/min) completed three 10 km running time trials (27 °C, 60% relative humidity) while wearing two cooling bands: (1) both bands were off (off/off), (2) one band on (off/on), (3) both bands on (on/on). Heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), mean arterial pressure (MAP), core temperature (TCO), thermal sensation (TS), and fatigue (VAS) were recorded at baseline and recovery, while running speed (RS) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected during the 10 km. Wrist cooling had no effect (p > 0.05) at rest, except modestly increased HR (3-5 ∆beats/min, p < 0.05). Wrist percooling increased (p < 0.05) RS (0.25 ∆mi/h) and HR (5 ∆beats/min), but not TCO (∆ 0.3 °C), RPE, or TS. Given incomplete trials, the distance achieved at 16 min was not different between conditions (off/off 1.96 ± 0.16 vs. off/on 1.98 ± 0.19 vs. on/on 1.99 ± 0.24 miles, p = 0.490). During recovery HRV, MAP, or fatigue were unaffected (p > 0.05). We demonstrate that wrist percooling elicited a faster running speed, though this coincides with increased HR; although, interestingly, sensations of effort and thermal comfort were unaffected, despite the faster speed and higher HR.

Keywords: cooling; endurance; environment; exercise; fatigue; recovery; thermal.

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Conflict of interest statement

The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental overview: RMR, resting metabolic rate; IET, incremental exercise test.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Raw performance data for all trials (n = 13): (A) average run time, including incomplete trials across condition; (B) number of incomplete trials across condition; and (C) average time to incompletion across conditions. Data are means ± Standard Error.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kaplan–Meier survival curve across time (seconds) between wrist cooling conditions during the 10 km time trial.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Running performance across wrist percooling condition. (A) Self-selected running speed during the 10 km time trial in the heat. Results of two-way ANOVA are presented (inset). Note: due to safety tolerance in core temperature trials were ended early and plotted to the shortest time, plus each athlete’s final data point (with SE for time). (B) Distance to 16 min across wrist percooling condition (n = 13). This time was chosen as it was the longest point to which all participants completed at least 16 min for all 3 trials. Data are means ± Standard Error.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Physiological responses to 10 km time trial in the heat across wrist percooling condition. (A) Heart rate and (B) core temperature during 10 km time trial. Note: due to safety tolerance in core temperature, trials were ended early and plotted to the shortest time, plus each athlete’s final data point. Data are means ± Standard Error (n = 13).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Perceptual measures during 10 km TT. (A) Thermal sensation (TS) and (B) Rating of perceived exertion. Note: due to safety tolerance in core temperature, trials were ended early and plotted to the shortest time, plus each athlete’s final data point. Data are means ± Standard Error, (n = 13).
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