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Different Cooling Strategies Applied During Inter-Set Rest Intervals in High-Intensity Resistance Training
Gilmar J Esteves1,2, Renato A Garcia1, Paulo H S M Azevedo1,3
1Group of Studies and Research in Exercise Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, Santos, SP, BRAZIL.
Cooling between resistance exercise sets did not enhance physical performance. Neck cooling showed a slight probability of increasing repetitions and reducing perceived exertion, but overall, no strategy proved effective for improving high-intensity training outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Muscle Fatigue Research
Background:
- Muscular fatigue can limit training volume during high-intensity resistance exercise.
- Reducing fatigue may enhance training session volume, potentially leading to greater muscle hypertrophy.
- Investigating inter-set cooling strategies could offer novel methods to delay fatigue and improve performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if cooling between sets during high-intensity resistance exercise improves physical performance.
- To compare the effectiveness of different cooling sites (palm, neck, local, tunnel temperature) on performance.
- To assess the impact of cooling strategies on the total volume of repetitions and rating of perceived exertion (RPE).
Main Methods:
- Nine healthy, recreationally trained men participated in a randomized crossover study.
- Participants performed biceps curl exercises, including a one-repetition maximum (1RM) test.
- Five cooling conditions (Control, Palm Cooling, Neck Cooling, Local Cooling, Tunnel Temperature Cooling) were applied for 1-minute intervals between sets.
Main Results:
- No tested cooling strategy significantly improved overall physical performance compared to the control condition.
- Neck cooling demonstrated a 71% probability of increasing the total number of repetitions performed.
- No cooling strategy significantly altered the rating of perceived exertion (RPE), though neck cooling showed a 52% probability of reducing it.
Conclusions:
- Current cooling strategies applied between sets are not effective in enhancing physical performance during high-intensity resistance exercise.
- Neck cooling may offer a marginal benefit in increasing training volume and potentially reducing perceived exertion.
- Further research is needed to explore optimal cooling protocols for resistance training performance enhancement.
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