The Impact of Wrist Percooling on Physiological and Perceptual Responses during a Running Time Trial Performance in the Heat

Abstract

Environmental heat stress poses significant physiological challenge and impairs exercise performance. We investigated the impact of wrist percooling on running performance and physiological and perceptual responses in the heat. In a counterbalanced design, 13 trained males (33 ± 9 years, 15 ± 7% body fat, and maximal oxygen consumption, VO2max 59 ± 5 mL/kg/min) completed three 10 km running time trials (27 °C, 60% relative humidity) while wearing two cooling bands: (1) both bands were off (off/off), (2) one band on (off/on), (3) both bands on (on/on). Heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV), mean arterial pressure (MAP), core temperature (TCO), thermal sensation (TS), and fatigue (VAS) were recorded at baseline and recovery, while running speed (RS) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected during the 10 km. Wrist cooling had no effect (p > 0.05) at rest, except modestly increased HR (3–5 ∆beats/min, p < 0.05). Wrist percooling increased (p < 0.05) RS (0.25 ∆mi/h) and HR (5 ∆beats/min), but not TCO (∆ 0.3 °C), RPE, or TS. Given incomplete trials, the distance achieved at 16 min was not different between conditions (off/off 1.96 ± 0.16 vs. off/on 1.98 ± 0.19 vs. on/on 1.99 ± 0.24 miles, p = 0.490). During recovery HRV, MAP, or fatigue were unaffected (p > 0.05). We demonstrate that wrist percooling elicited a faster running speed, though this coincides with increased HR; although, interestingly, sensations of effort and thermal comfort were unaffected, despite the faster speed and higher HR.

Editorial: New Training Strategies and Evaluation Methods for Improving Health and Physical Performance

“…Most of the articles published in this Special Issue focused on the relation between physical performance and physiological and morphological features [13][14][15][16]. Four papers investigated body composition in sports practice [17][18][19][20], while two articles evaluated new strategies aimed at improving and monitoring the recovery phase after the exercise [21,22].…”

“…Specifically, this ativity has been proposed to be used when highintensity voluntary conditioning contractions lead to enhancement in voluntary muscular performance, and therefore activation is produced in different ways as with post-activation potentiation. Denby et al [15] demostrated that wrist percooling during a 10 km timeto-trial in the heat resulted in a faster self-selected running speed and higher heart rates, though thermal sensation or perceptions of effort were unaffected. Valamatos and coworkers [16] identified several biomechanical determinants for sprinters.…”