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EFFECTS OF BREATHING COOL AIR DURING EXERCISE IN THE HEAT ON THERMOREGULATION, PERCEPTION AND CYCLING PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Cory L. Butts, Brendon P. McDermott, Christian B. Ridings, Elizabeth M. Demartini, James Grant, Nicole E. Moyen, Jenna M. Burchfield, Matthew S. Ganio & Stavros A. Kavouras, FACSM

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Limited research exists investigating the physiological effects of breathing cold air during exercise as a method of attenuating increases in core temperature. PURPOSE: Determine the effects of breathing cooled air during exercise on physiological, perceptual and subsequent performance responses. METHODS: Twelve trained male cyclists (age 26.5±3.6 y, height 1.81±0.05 m, body mass 73.5±7.9 kg, body fat 13.7±7.0%, VO2max 57.6±7.9 ml/kg/min) completed three trials in an environmental chamber (31°C, 55% RH) consisting of 75 min cycling at 59.1±4.8% VO2max, a performance 5 km time trial, and a 15 min cool down. Participants breathed on:off the CoreCooler device (water bottle providing cold air) at a low intermittent (LI) ratio of 1:4 min with inspired air temperature (TIA) of 19.8±3.7°C, high intermittent (HI) ratio of 2.5:2.5 min (TIA, 19.4±4.2°C), or control (CN) breathing warm air at 1:4 min (TIA, 30.8±1.6°C) during cycling and cool down. Gastrointestinal temperature (TGI), heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), perceived thirst, thermal sensation, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected every 15 min during cycling and every 5 min during performance and cool down. RESULTS: No differences were found in TGI (p=.827), HR (p=.363), MAP (p=.055), Thirst (p=.140), RPE (p=.056) between conditions at any time points. The rate of rise in core temperature was not attenuated in LI (0.014±0.005°C/min, p=1.00) or HI (0.008±0.005°C/min, p=.10) compared with CN (0.013±0.005°C/min). Systolic BP was greater at 45 minutes of cycling in HI (193.8±20.7 mmHg) versus CN (176.1±15.6 mmHg, p= .039). Thermal sensation was lower in LI than CN at the end of performance (CN 6.7±0.7, LI 6.0±0.7, p=.039) and both LI (CN 4.3±0.8, LI 3.8±0.7, p=.006) and HI (HI 3.7±0.7, p=.006) were lower at the end of cool down. Performance times were not different following LI (23.7±4.2 min, p=.279) or HI (23.6±4.2 min, p=.192) compared to CN (24.6±3.9 min). CONCLUSION: The utilization of the CoreCooler device at both LI and HI frequencies decreased thermal sensation, however no differences in physiological responses or performance were identified.

This research was funded by CoreCooler Company, LLC.

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