Ergogenic and Physiological Outcomes Derived From a Novel Skin Cooling Device

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research 2021-02, Vol.35 (2), p.391-403
• Main Authors: Gray, William D., Jett, David M., Cocco, Adam R., Vanhoover, Alexandria C., Colborn, Chris E., Pantalos, George M., Stumbo, Jessica, Quesada, Peter M., Caruso, John F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body Temperature; Body Temperature Regulation; Cold Temperature; Female; Hot Temperature; Humans; Male; Performance-Enhancing Substances; Skin Temperature
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003864

ABSTRACTGray, WD, Jett, DM, Cocco, AR, Vanhoover, AC, Colborn, CE, Pantalos, GM, Stumbo, J, Quesada, PM, and Caruso, JF. Ergogenic and physiological outcomes derived from a novel skin cooling device. J Strength Cond Res XX(X)000–000, 2020—Our studyʼs purpose assessed a cooling headbandʼs ergogenic and physiological impacts. Subjects (15 women and 13 men) completed six visits; the final 3 entailed rowing workouts with the following treatment conditionsno head cooling (NoHC), intermittent head cooling during exercise (HCex), and intermittent head cooling during exercise and post-exercise recovery (HCex&post). Data collection occurred at the following times (a) pre-exercise and post–warm-up, (b) between stages of up to eight 2-minute bouts, and (c) at 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes post-exercise. In addition to distance rowed, thermal, cardiovascular, perceptual, and metabolic measurements were obtained. Results included a small yet significant intertreatment difference (HCex, HCex&post > NoHC) for distance rowed. Our cardiovascular and metabolic indices exhibited sex and time differences but likely did not contribute to the ergogenic effect. Yet, left hand temperatures (LHT) exhibited significant 2-way and 3-way interactions that were the likely source of the ergogenic effect. Auditory canal temperature (AUDT) results suggest the head is sensitive to heat increases, yet LHT data show headband use evoked significantly greater temperature increases at the handʼs palmar surface, indicative of heat transfer. We conclude, and our practical applications suggest, the headbandʼs ergogenic effect was manifested by cold-induced vasodilation at the handʼs palmar surface, rather than heat losses through the head.