Skip to main content
Log in

Effects of pre-cooling procedures on intermittent-sprint exercise performance in warm conditions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether pre-cooling procedures improve both maximal sprint and sub-maximal work during intermittent-sprint exercise. Nine male rugby players performed a familiarisation session and three testing sessions of a 2 × 30-min intermittent sprint protocol, which consisted of a 15-m sprint every min separated by free-paced hard-running, jogging and walking in 32°C and 30% humidity. The three sessions included a control condition, Ice-vest condition and Ice-bath/Ice-vest condition, with respective cooling interventions imposed for 15-min pre-exercise and 10-min at half-time. Performance measures of sprint time and % decline and distance covered during sub-maximal exercise were recorded, while physiological measures of core temperature (T core), mean skin temperature (T skin), heart rate, heat storage, nude mass, rate of perceived exertion, rate of thermal comfort and capillary blood measures of lactate [La], pH, Sodium (Na+) and Potassium (K+) were recorded. Results for exercise performance indicated no significant differences between conditions for the time or % decline in 15-m sprint efforts or the distance covered during sub-maximal work bouts; however, large effect size data indicated a greater distance covered during hard running following Ice-bath cooling. Further, lowered T core, T skin, heart rate, sweat loss and thermal comfort following Ice-bath cooling than Ice-vest or Control conditions were present, with no differences present in capillary blood measures of [La], pH, K+ or Na+. As such, the ergogenic benefits of effective pre-cooling procedures in warm conditions for team-sports may be predominantly evident during sub-maximal bouts of exercise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arngrímsson SA, Petitt DS, Stueck MG, Jorgensen DK, Cureton KJ (2004) Cooling vest worn during active warm-up improves 5-km run performance in the heat. J Appl Physiol 96:1876–1874

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanis GC, Nevill ME, Lakomy HKA, Boobis LH (1998) Power output and muscle metabolism during and following recovery from 10 and 20 s of maximal sprint exercise in humans. Acta Physiol Scand 163:261–272

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Booth J, Marino F, Ward JJ (1997) Improved running performance in hot humid conditions following whole body precooling. Med Sci Sports Exec 29:943–949

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castle PC, Macdonald AL, Philip A, Webborn A, Watt PW, Maxwell NS (2006) Precooling leg muscle improves intermittent sprint exercise performance in hot, humid conditions. J Appl Physiol 100:1377–1384

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cheung SS, Robinson AM (2004) The influence of upper-body pre-cooling on repeated sprint performance in moderate ambient temperatures. J Sports Sci 22:605–612

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson B, Fitzsimons M, Ward D (1993) The relationship of repeated sprint ability to aerobic power and performance measures of anaerobic work capacity and power. Aust J Sci Med Sport 25(4):88–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Drust B, Cable NT, Reilly T (2000) Investigation of the effects of the pre-cooling on the physiological responses to soccer-specific intermittent exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 81:11–17

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drust B, Rassmussen P, Mohr M, Nielsen B, Nybo L (2005) Elevations in core and muscle temperature impairs repeated sprint performance. Acta Physiol Scand 183:181–190

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Duffield R, Dawson B, Bishop D, Fitzsimons M, Lawrence S (2003) Effect of wearing and ice cooling jacket on repeat sprint performance in warm/humid conditions. Br J Sports Med 37:164–169

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Alonso J, Teller C, Anderson SL. Jensen FB, Hyldig T, Nielsen B (1999) Influence of body temperature on the development of fatigue during prolonged exercise in the heat. J Appl Physiol 86:1032–1038

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Alonso J, Calbet JA (2003) Reductions in systemic and skeletal muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery limit maximal aerobic exercise capacity in humans. Circulation 107(6):824–830

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hasegawa H, Takatori T, Komura T, Yamsaki M (2005) Wearing a cooling jacket during exercise reduces thermal strain and improves endurance performance in a warm environment. J Strength Cond Res 19(1):122–128

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Havenith G, Inoue Y, Wyndham CH (1995) Age predicts cardiovascular, but not thermoregulatory responses to humid heat stress. Eur J Appl Physiol 70:88–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hessemer V, Langusch D, Bruck K (1984) Effect of slightly lowered temperatures on endurance performance in humans. J Appl Physiol 57:1731–1737

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kay D, Marino FE, Cannon J, St Clair Gibson A, Lambert MI, Noakes TD (2001) Evidence for neuromuscular fatigue during high-intensity cycling in warm, humid conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 84(1):115–121

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kozlowski S, Brzezinska Z, Kruk B. Kaciuba-Uscilko H, Greenleaf JE, Nazar K. (1985) Exercise hyperthermia as a factor limiting physical performance: temperature effect on muscle metabolism. J Appl Physiol 59:766–773

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kruk B, Pekkarinen H, Harri M, Manninen K, Hanninen O (1990) Thermoregulatory responses to exercise at low ambient temperature performed after precooling or preheating procedures. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 59:416–420

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee D, Haymes E (1995) Exercise duration and thermoregulatory responses after whole body precooling. J Appl Physiol 79:1971–1976

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marino FE (2002) Methods, advantages and limitations of body cooling for exercise performance. Br J Sports Med 36:89–94

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marsh D, Sleivert G (1999) Effect of precooling on high intensity cycling performance. Br J Sports Med 33:393–397

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell N, Gardner F, Nimmo M (1999) Intermittent running:muscle metabolism in the heat and effect of hypohydration. Med Sci Sports Ex 31(5):675–683

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell JB, Schiller ER, Miller JR, Dugas JP (2001) The influence of different external cooling methods on thermoregulatory responses before and after intermittent exercise in the heat. J Strength Cond Res 15(20):247–254

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris JG, Nevill ME, Williams C (2000) Physiological and metabolic responses of female games and endurance athletes to prolonged, intermittent, high-intensity running at 30° and 16°C ambient temperatures. Eur J Appl Physiol 81:84–92

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morris JG, Nevill ME, Boobis LH, MacDonald IA, Williams C (2005) Muscle metabolism, temperature and function during prolonged, intermittent, high-intensity running in air temperatures of 33° and 17°C. Int J Sports Med 26:805–814

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olschewski H, Bruck K (1988) Thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and muscular factors related to exercise after precooling. J Appl Physiol 64(2):803–811

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ramanathan NLA (1964) A new weighting system for mean surface temperature of the human body. J Appl Physiol 19:531–533

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sleivert GG, Cotter JD, Roberts WS, Febbraio MA (2001) The influence of whole-body vs torso precooling on physiological strain and performance of high intensity exercise in the heat. Comp Biochem Physiol 128(4):657–666

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer M, Bishop D, Dawson B, Goodman C (2005) Physiological and metabolic responses of repeated-sprint activities. Sports Med 35(12):1025–1044

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker R, Rauch L, Harley YX, Noakes TD (2004) Impaired exercise performance in the heat is associated with an anticipatory reduction in skeletal muscle activation. Plugers Arch 448:422–430

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Webborn N, Price MJ, Castle PC, Goosey-Tolfrey VL (2005) Effects of two cooling strategies on thermoregulatory responses of tetraplegia athletes during repeated intermittent exercise in the heat. J Appl Physiol 98:2101–2107

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson TE, Johnson SC, Petajan JH, Davis SL, Gappmaier E, Luetkemeier MJ, White AT (2002) Thermal regulatory responses to submaximal cycling following lower-body cooling in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 88:67–75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding of this project from a CSU Small Grant supplied by Charles Sturt University.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rob Duffield.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Duffield, R., Marino, F.E. Effects of pre-cooling procedures on intermittent-sprint exercise performance in warm conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 100, 727–735 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0468-x

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0468-x

Keywords

Navigation