Drust, B., Cable, N. T., & Reilly, T. (1998). The effects of whole body pre-cooling on soccer-specific intermittent exercise performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 1597.

Intermittent activity induces greater rectal temperature than that produced by aerobic exercise. Pre-cooling effects were evaluated in male university soccer players (N = 6) during and after an intermittent soccer-specific exercise protocol on a non-motorized treadmill on three occasions. Evaluations occurred with and without pre-cooling at 20 degrees Celsius and in a heated laboratory at 26 degrees Celsius. Pre-cooling was achieved by showering for 60 minutes at 26 degrees Celsius.

Average rectal temperature was lower during exercise following pre-cooling when performing at 26 degrees Celsius. At the end of exercise, rectal temperatures were similar in all conditions. No differences between the conditions were observed for oxygen consumption, heart rate, ventilation, RPE, and plasma lactate, glucose, or free fatty acid concentrations.

Implication. Thermoregulatory benefits from pre-cooling for intermittent exercises are transient in nature.

Return to Table of Contents for this issue.