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Small Performance Effects of a Practical Mixed-Methods Cooling Strategy in Elite Team Sport Athletes.
S P Fenemor1,2, N D Gill1,3, M W Driller4
1University of Waikato Adams Centre for High Performance.
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|September 27, 2022
Summary
Combining ice slurry ingestion and ice towels significantly improved physiological, perceptual, and performance metrics for elite rugby sevens athletes in heat. This combined cooling strategy offers practical benefits for athletes competing in hot environments.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Environmental Physiology
- Human Performance
Background:
- Individual cooling strategies like ice slurry ingestion and ice towels show benefits.
- Combined cooling effectiveness in elite team sports under match-specific conditions is understudied.
- Heat stress significantly impacts physiological and performance outcomes in athletes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the combined effect of internal (ice slurry) and external (ice towels) cooling.
- To evaluate these strategies during a sport-specific performance test for rugby sevens.
- To determine benefits in hot conditions (35°C, 80% rH) for non-heat acclimated athletes.
Main Methods:
- Ten elite male rugby sevens athletes participated in a crossover design study.
- Two cycling heat response tests (HRT) specific to rugby sevens demands were performed.
- Athletes underwent HRTs with (COOLING) and without (HOT) combined pre- and per-cooling.
Main Results:
- The COOLING condition reduced mean tympanic temperature by 0.4°C.
- Mean heart rate, thermal discomfort, and thirst sensation were significantly lower in COOLING.
- A small but significant increase (~3%) in 4-min time trial power output was observed with COOLING.
Conclusions:
- Combined internal and external cooling strategies provide physiological, perceptual, and performance advantages.
- These benefits were observed during a rugby sevens specific heat response test.
- Practitioners should consider integrated cooling protocols for athletes competing in hot environments.
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