A light-weight cooling vest enhances performance of athletes in the heat

During the 1990s, emphasis on the health and safety of people who exercise in hot, humid conditions increased and many organizations became aware of the need for protection against heat-related disorders. A practical, pre-cooling strategy applicable to several sporting codes, which is low cost, easy...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ergonomics 2005-06, Vol.48 (7), p.821-837
Main Authors: Webster, J, Holland, EJ, Sleivert, G, Laing, RM, Niven, BE
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Applied physiology
Athletes
Biological and medical sciences
Body Temperature
Ergonomics. Work place. Occupational physiology
Exercise
Female
Health
Health and safety
Heat Stress Disorders - prevention & control
Heatstroke
Human performance
Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
New Zealand
Protective Clothing
Safety
Space life sciences
Sport
Sports
Task Performance and Analysis
Thermophysiology
Upper Extremity
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:During the 1990s, emphasis on the health and safety of people who exercise in hot, humid conditions increased and many organizations became aware of the need for protection against heat-related disorders. A practical, pre-cooling strategy applicable to several sporting codes, which is low cost, easy to use, light-weight and which enhances cooling of the human body prior to and following exercise, was developed and tested. Eight males and eight females participated in a maximal oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O 2max ) test and four trials: a control (without cooling) and wearing each of three different cooling vests (A, B, C). Vests were worn during the rest, stretch, warm-up (50% [Vdot]O 2max ) and recovery stages of the protocol, but not during the 30 min run (70% [Vdot]O 2max ). Core and skin temperatures during exercise were reduced (by approximately 0.5°C, rectal; 0.1 - 1.4°C, abdominal skin temperature) and sweat rates were lower (by approximately 10 - 23%). Endurance times for running at 95% of [Vdot]O 2max were increased by up to 49 s. Perceptions of the thermal state and skin wetness showed changes to greater levels of satisfaction. Physiological and sensory responses were related to design features of the vests.
ISSN:0014-0139
1366-5847
DOI:10.1080/00140130500122276