Citation

Duffield R, Steinbacher G, Fairchild TJ. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2009; 23(9): 2524-2532.

Affiliation

1School of Human Movement Studies, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia; 2School of Exercise Science, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York; and 3School of Chiropractic and Sports Science, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, National Strength and Conditioning Association)

DOI

10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181bf7a4f

PMID

19910821

Abstract

The current study investigated the effects of a pre-cooling intervention on physiological and performance responses to team-sport training in the heat. Seven male lacrosse players performed a familiarization session and 2 randomized, counterbalanced sessions consisting of a 30-minute intermittent-sprint conditioning session. Prior to the sessions, players performed a 20-minute mixed-method, part-body cooling intervention (consisting of cooling vests, cold towels to the neck, and ice packs to the quads) or no cooling intervention. Performance was determined from collection of 1 Hz global positioning system (GPS) data and analyzed for distance and speed. Prior to, during, and following the sessions, core temperature, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and thermal sensation scale (TSS) were measured; additionally, a venous blood sample was collected before and after each session for measurement of interleukin-6 (IL-6), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein3 (IGF-BP3). Results indicated that a greater distance was covered during the pre-cooling condition (3.35 + 0.20 vs. 3.11 + 0.13 km; p = 0.05). Further, most of this improvement was evident from a greater distance covered during moderate intensities of 7 to 14 km/h (2.28 + 0.18 vs. 2.00 + 0.24 km; p = 0.05). Peak speeds and very-high-intensity efforts (20 km/h +) were not different between conditions (p > 0.05). The increase in core temperature was blunted following cooling, with a lower core temperature throughout the cooling session (38.8 + 0.3 vs. 39.3 + 0.4 degrees C; p < 0.05). However, there were no differences in heart rate, RPE, TSS, IL-6, IGF-1, or IGF-BP3 between conditions (p > 0.05). Accordingly, the use of a mixed-method, part-body cooling intervention prior to an intermittent-sprint training session in the heat can assist in reducing thermoregulatory load and improve aspects of training performance for team sports.

Language: en