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Acta Physiologica 2008; Volume 193, Supplement 664
Scandinavian Physiological Society’s Annual Meeting 2008
8/15/2008-8/17/2008
Oulu, Finland
THE USE OF A COOLING VEST DURING EXERCISE IN WARM CONDITION DELAYS THE APPEARANCE OF FATIGUE AND IMPROVES CYCLING PERFORMANCE
Abstract number: P28
DUGUE1 B, LUOMALA1 M, HOLMER1 I, SMOLANDER1 J, OKSA1 J
1Faculty of Sport Sciences, 4 alle Jean Monnet, Poitiers, France
Whether the use of a cooling vest during exercise in warm and humid environments promotes endurance is not known. Here we address this question for heavy cycling. Seven trained males were evaluated 3 times: first to determine their maximal capacities and twice during heavy cycling with or without using a light cooling vest (Flexi cold vest, Sweden, ice packs at 20 °C). After a standardised warm-up, the subjects followed a cycling protocol at 30°C and 40% relative humidity. The subjects cycled at 60% VO2 max until exhaustion except for periods of 1 min starting after 9 min and every 10 min thereafter when cycling was at 80% VO2 max. The cooling vest was put on after 30 min. The time to exhaustion and rectal temperature after 50 min of cycling and at exhaustion and EMG-signals from 4 muscles of the right leg were measured. We found that the time to exhaustion was significantly improved when the vest was used compared with the control session (7217 min vs. 58 7 min, respectively). After 50 min of cycling the rectal temperature did not differ between the two sessions whereas at exhaustion it was significantly higher in the session where the vest was used compared with the control session (39.1 vs. 38.8°C, respectively). Also, the frequency and the power analysis of the EMG signals indicated lower neuromuscular fatigue when the vest was used. In conclusion, wearing an ice-vest while exercising in warm conditions improves endurance performance and delays the appearance of fatigue.
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Acta Physiologica 2008; Volume 193, Supplement 664 :P28