Palm cooling temperatures on thermal, physiological, perceptual, and ergogenic indices from rowing workouts in a thermoneutral environment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Gel pack temperatures were compared for responses to thermal, physiological, perceptual, and ergogenic indices from healthy women (n = 12) and men (n = 8). They did three rowing workouts to identify an ideal temperature. In a randomised sequence, and as subjects wore gloves equipped with mesh pouches during workouts, gel packs at one of the three average temperatures (10.6, 12.6, or 14.9°C) were inserted into the pouches. Data were collected before, during and after multi-stage workouts. Thermal, physiological, and perceptual data were each compared with three-factor (condition, gender, time) mixed effect model ANCOVAs, with repeated measures for condition and time, and gender as a between subjects’ factor. Distance rowed was assessed with two-factor (condition, gender) mixed effect model ANCOVAs, with repeated measures for condition, and gender as a between subjects’ factor. Within-subject contrasts was the post-hoc, and α = 0.05 denoted significance. Despite small differences for distance rowed, many dependent variables had significant inter-condition effects, whereby 10.6°C gel packs had the best thermal and physiological responses. The 10.6°C temperature 1): likely removed the most body heat, perhaps through cold-induced vasodilation and, 2): may be optimal, as it evoked the best thermal and physiological responses.