Wilson, T. E., White, A. T., Davis, S. L., Leutkemeier, M. L., & Johnson, S. C. (2000). Effect of precooling on sweat function during exercise induced thermal loads. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 32(5), Supplement abstract 457.

Precooling is a strategy to create heat debt immediately before the onset of work. Ss (N = 8) participated in a cross-over experimental design that included: 30 minutes of baseline (21-23 degrees C), 30 minutes of water immersion (34-36 degrees C for a thermoneutral condition and 16-18 degrees C for a precooling condition), and 60 minutes of exercise at 60% VO2max.

Evaporative heat loss was similar under both conditions but precooling resulted in a lower reliance on sweat for heat dissipation. The fluid conservation might facilitate better exercise function before the onset of thermal stress/fatigue.

Implication. Precooling reduces the amount of sweating in hot conditions.

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