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Affiliation
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1 Korey Stringer Institute, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT. |
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Abstract
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CONTEXT: Although body cooling has both performance and safety benefits, knowledge on optimizing cooling during specific sport competition is limited.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this review is twofold; 1) to identify when during sport competition it is optimal for body cooling and 2) to identify optimal body cooling modalities to enhance safety and maximize sport performance. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify articles with specific context regarding body cooling, sport performance, and cooling modalities used during sport competition. A search of scientific peer-reviewed literature examining the effects of body cooling on exercise performance was done to examine the influence of body cooling on exercise performance. Subsequently, a literature search was done to identify effective cooling modalities that have been shown to increase exercise performance. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: The cooling modalities that are most effective in cooling the body during sport competition are dependent on the sport, timing of cooling, and feasibility based on the constraints of the sports rules and regulations. Factoring in the length of breaks (halftime substitutions, etc.), the equipment worn during the competition, and the cooling modalities that offer the greatest potential to cool must be considered within each individual sport.
CONCLUSIONS: Scientific evidence supports using body cooling as a method of increasing performance during sport competition. Developing a strategy to use cooling modalities that are scientifically evidence based to increase performance while maximizing athlete's safety warrants further investigation.
Language: en |