Citation

Chalmers S, Siegler J, Lovell R, Lynch G, Gregson W, Marshall P, Jay O. J. Sci. Med. Sport 2019; 22(8): 912-917.

Affiliation

Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia; Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: ollie.jay@sydney.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Sports Medicine Australia, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsams.2019.04.009

PMID

31151878

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The study examined if three feasible strategies involving additional in-play cooling periods attenuate the core (rectal) temperature rise during simulated football matches.

DESIGN: Four counterbalanced experimental trials in an environmental chamber set to 35 °C ambient temperature, 55% relative humidity, and 30 °C WBGT.

METHODS: Twelve healthy well-trained football players completed a regular simulated match (REG), regular simulated match with additional 3-min cooling periods at the 30-min mark of each half inclusive of chilled water consumption (COOL_water), regular simulated match with additional 3-min cooling periods at the 30-min mark of each half inclusive of chilled water consumption and the application of an ice towel around the neck (COOL_towel), regular simulated match with an extended (+5 min; total of 20-min) half-time break (HT_extended).

RESULTS: The difference in rectal temperature change was significantly lower in the COOL_water (-0.25 °C), COOL_towel (-0.28 °C), and HT_extended (-0.21 °C) trials in comparison to the REG (all p < 0.05). Exercising heart rate and session rating of perceived exertion was lower in the COOL_water (-13 bpm; -1.4 au), COOL_towel (-10 bpm; -1.3 au), and HT_extended (-8 bpm; -0.9 au) trials in comparison to the REG trial (all p < 0.05). The cooling interventions did not significantly change skin temperature or thermal sensation in comparison to the REG (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: All three cooling interventions attenuated core body thermal strain during simulated matches. The laboratory-based study supports the use of brief in-play cooling periods as a means to attenuate the rise in core temperature during matches in hot and humid conditions.

Copyright © 2019 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Soccer, Australian football

Language: en

Keywords

Body temperature regulation; Heat stress; Hot temperature; Soccer; Sports