Practical Torso Cooling During Soccer-Specific Exercise in the Heat.

CONTEXT: Precooling and midevent cooling of the torso using cooling vests can improve exercise performance in the heat with or without physiological changes; however, the effects of such cooling during intermittent exercise in the heat are unknown.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of torso cooling during intermittent exercise in the heat (35°C, 50% relative humdity) on sprint performance and the physiological and perceptual responses to the exercise.

DESIGN: Crossover study.

SETTING: Walk-in environmental chamber.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Ten non-heat-acclimated, male soccer players (age = 25 ± 2 years, height = 1.77 ± 0.06 m, mass = 72.9 ± 7.6 kg).

INTERVENTION(S): Two 90-minute bouts of soccer-specific intermittent running in the heat: 1 trial with a cooling vest worn during the exercise and 1 trial without a cooling vest. Each trial comprised two 45-minute periods separated by approximately 15 minutes of seated rest in cool conditions (approximately 23°C, 50% relative humdity).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Peak sprint speed, rectal temperature (Tr ), mean-weighted skin temperature (Tsk ), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and thermal sensation (TS) were measured every 5 minutes.

RESULTS: Peak sprint performance was largely unaffected by the cooling vest. The Tr , Tsk , HR, RPE, and TS were unaffected in the cooling-vest trial during the first 45 minutes, but Tr rose at a slower rate in the cooling-vest trial (0.026°C. min-1 ± 0.008°C. min-1 ) than in the no-vest trial (0.032°C. min-1 ± 0.009°C. min-1 ). During the second 45-minute period, Tr , Tr rate of rise, Tsk , RPE, and TS were lower in the cooling-vest trial (Hedges g range, 0.55-0.84), but mean HR was unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS: Wearing a cooling vest during soccer-specific intermittent running in the heat reduced physiological and perceptual strain but did not increase peak sprint speed.