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Neck cooling and running performance in the heat: single versus repeated application
Christopher James Tyler1, Caroline Sunderland
1Department of Life Sciences, Roehampton University, Whitelands College, London, UK. Chris.Tyler@roehampton.ac.uk
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|May 25, 2011
Summary
Sustained neck cooling significantly improved time trial running performance in the heat. This intervention enhanced distance covered without altering physiological or neuroendocrinological responses, indicating effective thermal management.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Environmental Heat Stress
- Thermoregulation
Background:
- Athletes often face performance decrements in hot environments due to thermal strain.
- Effective thermoregulation strategies are crucial for optimizing endurance performance during exercise in the heat.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of continuous neck cooling on time trial running performance in a hot climate.
- To assess whether sustained neck cooling influences physiological, endocrinological, or perceptual responses during exercise.
Main Methods:
- Seven nonacclimated males underwent three 90-minute preloaded time trials in a controlled hot environment (30.4°C).
- Interventions included a continuous cooling collar (CC), a replaced cooling collar (CC(replaced)), and no collar (NC).
- Performance (distance ran), physiological (rectal temperature, HR), and perceptual (RPE, thermal sensation) data were collected.
Main Results:
- Continuous neck cooling (CC) and replaced neck cooling (CC(replaced)) resulted in significantly greater distances covered compared to no cooling (NC).
- No significant difference in performance was observed between CC and CC(replaced) conditions.
- Neck cooling effectively reduced neck skin temperature and perceived thermal sensation of the neck region but did not affect other measured physiological or endocrinological variables.
Conclusions:
- Neck surface cooling enhances time trial performance in hot conditions by improving thermal comfort without systemic physiological changes.
- Sustained cooling via a collar from the start is as effective as intermittent replacement for improving performance.
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