Cumulative pre-cooling methods do not enhance cycling performance in tropical climate.

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Environmental Physiology

Background:

• Athletes often use cooling strategies during warm-up to mitigate heat stress.
• Mixed cooling techniques combine internal and external methods for thermoregulation.
• The effectiveness of menthol-infused cooling during exercise in hot, humid climates requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of mixed cooling techniques on cycling performance in a tropical climate.
• To assess the influence of cooling vests (ice water or ice menthol water) and cold menthol water ingestion during warm-up on performance and physiological responses.
• To evaluate the effects of these cooling strategies on perceived exertion, thermal comfort, and thermal sensation.

Main Methods:

• Seven heat-acclimatized male cyclists completed three 20-min time trials in hot and humid conditions.
• Warm-up protocols included ingestion of cold menthol water combined with either an ice water cooling vest (ICE-VEST), an ice menthol water cooling vest (MEN-VEST), or no vest (NO-VEST).
• Performance (total distance), physiological parameters (core body temperature, heart rate), and subjective perceptions were measured.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in cycling performance (total distance or pace) or physiological parameters were observed between the ICE-VEST, MEN-VEST, and NO-VEST conditions.
• A decrease in distance traveled per 2-minute block over time was noted, indicating pacing variations, but this was consistent across all conditions.
• While thermal sensation increased significantly in the NO-VEST condition, it remained stable in the ICE-VEST and MEN-VEST conditions, suggesting improved thermal comfort with cooling vests.

Conclusions:

• Mixed cooling techniques, including cooling vests and menthol ingestion, did not enhance cycling performance in a hot and humid environment.
• Wearing a cooling vest, regardless of menthol infusion, appeared to improve thermal sensation during and after exercise.
• Further research may explore different cooling durations, intensities, or vest designs to optimize performance benefits in extreme conditions.