Abstract
Background: Thermal strain results from extreme temperature exposures and is common among athletes that create conflicting physiological responses. However, little is known on how rapidly shifting the body from a heat-dissipating to a heat-conserving state impacts human physiologically and psychologically. Purpose: To assess the physiological and psychological effects of thermal strain on collegiate football players. Methods: 18 Division I collegiate football players (19.72y ± 1.36) participated in the study during one full contact practice in the spring semester. Participants reported to the athletic training room 15-minutes before practice to have a Zephyr sensor placed in the midaxillary line. Participants also completed a 3-item survey (i.e., rate of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal comfort, perceived pain level) and had thermal images recorded at three time points (i.e., pre practice, post practice, post recovery). Following the conclusion of practice, participants sat in a recovery room at 1.6˚C for 15 minutes. Results: RPE was significantly lower at pre-practice and post recovery compared to post-practice (p < .01). Further, there were significant reductions in participant thermal comfort at pre, and post practice times compared to post recovery (p < .01). In addition, participants had significantly higher perceived pain levels (p = .02) following practice compared to pre practice and post-recovery. Following recovery trunk temperatures were significantly lower compared to pre- and post-practice (p p < .01). Both leg and head temperatures pre practice and after recovery were significantly less than temperatures post practice. No significant differences were seen in HR during practice (p = 0.99). However, the control HR was significantly lower than all conditions (p < .001) whereas the recovery HR was significantly lower compared to all conditions except the control (p < .001). Conclusion: Spending 15 minutes in a climate-controlled recovery room (1.6˚C) improved players perceived exertion, recovery and positively impacted players recovery responses. Future research should assess the temperature, duration, and timing of cold room exposure in athletes on recovery and performance.
Recommended Citation
Wright, Blake E.
(2026)
"Psychological and Physiological Effects of Acute Cold Exposure Following Bouts of Intense Exercise,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
18, Article 172.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/172