AUTHOR=Iwahashi Manami , Chaen Yudai , Yanaoka Takuma , Kurokawa Yasutsugu , Hasegawa Hiroshi TITLE=Cold water immersion of the hand and forearm during half-time improves intermittent exercise performance in the heat JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology VOLUME=14 YEAR=2023 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1143447 DOI=10.3389/fphys.2023.1143447 ISSN=1664-042X ABSTRACT=

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of cold water immersion of the hand and forearm during half-time (HT) on intermittent exercise performance and thermoregulation by imitating intermittent athletic games in the heat. In a randomized crossover design, 11 physically active men performed the first half (first and second block) and second half (third and fourth block) intermittent cycling exercise protocol, which consisted of a 5-s maximal power pedalling (body weight × 0.075 kp) every minute separated by 25-s of unloaded pedalling and rest (30 s) in the heat (33°C, 50% relative humidity). The two-halves were separated by a 15-min HT. During HT, the participants were assigned to the CON (sedentary resting) or COOL (immersion of hands and forearms in cold water at 15–17°C) condition. The mean power output in the second half was significantly greater (third and fourth block: p < 0.05) in the COOL than in the CON condition. Moreover, there was a significant decrease in the rectal (0.54 ± 0.17°C, p < 0.001) and mean skin (1.86 ± 0.34°C, p < 0.05) temperatures of the COOL condition during HT. Furthermore, the heart rate (16 ± 7 bpm, p < 0.05) and skin blood flow (40.2 ± 10.5%, p < 0.001) decreased at the end of HT in the COOL condition. In the second half, thermal sensation was more comfortable in the COOL condition (p < 0.001). Cold water immersion of the hand and forearm during HT improved physiological and reduced perceived heat stress. Moreover, it prevented a reduction in intermittent exercise performance in the second half.