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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(02): 122-131
DOI: 10.1055/a-1213-5960
Physiology & Biochemistry

Cooling During Exercise May Induce Benefits Linked to Improved Brain Perfusion

Wafa Douzi
1   Laboratoire “Mobilité, Vieillissement, Exercice (MOVE) - EA 6314” et Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
,
Benoit Dugué 
1   Laboratoire “Mobilité, Vieillissement, Exercice (MOVE) - EA 6314” et Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
,
Dimitri Theurot
1   Laboratoire “Mobilité, Vieillissement, Exercice (MOVE) - EA 6314” et Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
,
Ludwig Vinches
2   École de santé publique - Département de Santé Environnementale et Santé au Travail, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
,
Stéphane Hallé
3   Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ecole de Technologie Supérieure, Montreal, Canada
,
Olivier Dupuy
1   Laboratoire “Mobilité, Vieillissement, Exercice (MOVE) - EA 6314” et Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
› Author Affiliations Funding: This study was funded in part by the Quebec Research and Technology Fund (FRQNT) for the project “Impact of wearing a new cooling system on miners working in deep mines”
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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of using a cooling vest during physical exercise (per-cooling) in humid and temperate conditions (≈22°C, ≈80% relative humidity) on perceptual and physiological responses (tissue oxygenation and heart rate). 20 physically active men performed twice a 30-min cycling exercise at 70% of their theoretical maximum heart rate while using an activated (experimental condition) and a deactivated (control condition) cooling system in a randomized crossover study. Heart rate and tissue (cerebral and muscular) oxygenation were continuously measured during exercise and recovery, and skin temperature was measured every 10 min. Perception of temperature, humidity and comfort were assessed at the end of the recovery period. Results showed a decrease in trunk skin temperature (p<0.05), a faster heart rate recovery and an increase in the concentration of total hemoglobin at the brain level (p<0.05) compared with control condition. Moreover, an improved subjective rating of thermal sensations, wetness and comfort compared to control values (p<0.05) was noted. In conclusion, wearing a cooling vest during submaximal exercise improves perceptual and physiological responses in humid temperate conditions, which may be due to a better blood perfusion at the brain level and a better parasympathetic reactivation.

Key words

cooling device - brain perfusion - exercise - thermoregulation - per-cooling


Publication History

Received: 11 February 2020

Accepted: 24 June 2020

Article published online:
13 September 2020

© 2020. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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