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Palm cooling delays fatigue during high-intensity bench press exercise
Young Sub Kwon1, Robert A Robergs, Len R Kravitz
1Department of Health, Exercise & Sports Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 87131-0001, USA. youngsubkwon@hotmail.com
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|February 9, 2010
Summary
Local palm cooling during resistance exercise rest periods significantly increased total repetitions and exercise volume. This method temporarily overrides fatigue mechanisms, enhancing performance in intense workouts.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Thermal Regulation
Background:
- Local cooling can enhance performance during short-term, intense exercise.
- Heat extraction from the palm is a proposed method for personal cooling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if local palm cooling (PC) during rest intervals in progressive weight training increases repetitions and exercise volume.
- To compare PC effects against thermoneutral (TN) and palm heating (PH) conditions in resistance-trained individuals.
Main Methods:
- Sixteen resistance-trained males performed bench press to fatigue at 85% 1RM, with 3-min rest intervals.
- Trials included thermoneutral, palm heating (45°C), and palm cooling (10°C) conditions using a rapid thermal exchanger.
- Subjects underwent three counterbalanced trials, separated by at least 3 days.
Main Results:
- Total exercise volume was significantly higher with PC (2480 kg) compared to TN (1972 kg) and PH (2156 kg) (P < 0.01).
- Root Mean Square (RMS) of surface EMG was higher with PC.
- Esophageal temperature and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) were lower during PC compared to TN and PH conditions.
Conclusions:
- Local palm cooling (10°C to 20°C) temporarily overrides fatigue mechanisms during intense intermittent resistance exercise.
- PC demonstrates an ergogenic effect, enhancing exercise performance.
- The precise mechanisms underlying this ergogenic function require further investigation.
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