Effects of palm cooling on thermoregulatory-related and subjective indicators during exercise in a hot environment

Abstract

Palm cooling is a simple and easily implemented intervention strategy during exercise. We aimed to examine the effects of bilateral palm cooling before and during exercise on thermoregulatory-related and subjective indicators in a hot environment. Ten active men (age: 21 ± 1 years; height 172.2 ± 5.7 cm; weight 67.4 ± 7.2 kg) underwent three experimental trials at the same time of the day, consisting of palm cooling with 12°C (ICE12°C), palm cooling with 0°C (ICE0°C) where vasoconstriction is supposed to occur, and control (CON) trials. After 30 min rest at ambient temperature, participants performed 20 min exercise at 33°C, 60% relative humidity. Rectal temperature, skin temperature, rate of perceived exertion, heart rate, local sweat rate, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, and respiratory exchange ratio did not differ between the trials. Thermal sensation and comfort were lower in the ICE12°C and ICE0°C trials than in the CON trial, but the ICE0°C trial showed a longer duration of cold sensation than the ICE12°C trial. Palm cooling at 12°C and 0°C improved thermal sensation and thermal comfort during exercise in a hot environment, although there was no effect on core body temperature, sweating, and cardiorespiratory function. Bilateral palm cooling at 12°C and 0°C improve subjective indicators during exercise in a hot environment and these effects are slightly greater at 0°C than at 12°C cooling, while having no effect on thermoregulatory-related indicators. These results suggest that bilateral palm cooling at lower temperatures may safely reduce the perception of warmth during exercise in a hot environment.