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Table 2 Effect of head cooling on thermoregulatory responses and physical performance in the heat

From: Head, Face and Neck Cooling as Per-cooling (Cooling During Exercise) Modalities to Improve Exercise Performance in the Heat: A Narrative Review and Practical Applications

Study

Subjects

Ambient conditions

Cooling interventions

Exercise protocol

Thead

Perceptual outcomes

Thermoregulatory outcomes

Performance outcomes

Ansley et al. [16]

9 males

27–29 °C, 40–60% RH

Head cooling (3 fans placed at 50 cm from the face and head + a mist of water was sprayed over the head at 30 s intervals)

Cycling TTE at 75% VO2max

↓

↓ RPE

→ Tcore, ↓ Tsk, → HR & Bla & Gluc & VO2 & VE, ↓ PRL

↑ Time by 21 min (51%)

Levels et al. [37]

10 cyclists

30 °C, 50% RH

Head cooling (neoprene-covered silicone cooling cap connected to a cooling machine. Tcoolant = – 9 to – 10 °C)

15 km TT cycling at 2 W/body mass

NA

→ TS & TD & RPE

→ Tcore & Tsk, → HR

→ Exercise time

CoeIho et al. [38]

15 males

35 °C, 50% RH

Head cooling (cotton cap containing a cold mixture [− 20.2 ± 1.8 °C] of water and alcohol gel, change every 7 min) for 20 min prior to exercise

5 km TT running

↓

 → TS & RPE

↓ Tcore, → Tsk, → HR & SR

↑ Time by − 2 min (7%)

Walters et al. [39]

22 males

35 ± 1 °C, 15 ± 3% RH

Head cooling (cooling fluid through tubing and neoprene cap, Twater = 5–10 °C)

Cycling 40 min at 65% VO2max & 7-min recovery, graded exercise test (1 W increased every 2.5 s until exhaustion, cooling removed)

NA

→ RPE

→ Tcore, → HR & Bla,

↑ Work load by 13 W (4%)

Minett et al. [40]

10 male athletes

33.0 ± 0.7 °C, 33.3 ± 3.9% RH

Head cooling (ice towel soaked in water [5 ± 0.5 °C] before being placed over the head)

2 × 35-min exercise spells separated by 15-min recovery

NA

↓ TS & RPE

→ pH & Gluc & HCO3

↑ Distance by 43 m (4%)

Hyde [41]

7 males & 7 females

38.5 ± 1.5 °C, 37.5 ± 7.6% RH

Head cooling (cooling cap connected to a cooling machine, T unknown)

Six bouts treadmill exercise (3–4.5 mph at 5% inclination)

NA

NA

→ Tcore, → HR

NA

Desruelle and Candas [42]

7 males

36 °C, 29% RH

Head cooling (10 °C air to the hood, 12 m/s)

Cycling 35 min at 90 W

↓

NA

→ Tcore, ↓ Tsk, → SR

NA

Watanuki[43]

6 females

25 °C, 56% RH

Head cooling (inlet Twater = 15 °C with a flow of 1.2 L/min)

Cycling 25 min at 25% VO2max, & cycling 25 min at 50% VO2max

↓

NA

↓ HR & CO & VO2

NA

Katsuura et al. [44]

10 males

30 °C

Head cooling (thermoelectric cooled water circulating through tubing, Twater = 15 °C)

Cycling 45 min at 40% VO2max

NA

NA

↑ Tcore, ↓ SR, → SkBF

NA

Katsuura et al. [44]

10 males

40 °C

Head cooling (thermoelectric cooled water circulating through tubing, Twater = 15 °C)

Passive heating

NA

NA

↓ Tcore, ↓ HR & VO2 & CO & SkBF

NA

Greenleaf et al. [45]

4 males

40.1 °C, 40% RH

Head cooling (liquid cooling headgear, T unknown)

Cycling 60 min at 45% VO2max

NA

NA

→ Tcore, → HR & PP & Osmotic & ES, ↑ PV, ↓ SR

NA

  1. → no change, ↑ increase, ↓ decrease, Bla blood lactate concentration, CO cardiac output, ES electrolyte shift, Gluc glucose concentration, HR heart rate, NA not available, PP plasma protein, PPO peak power output, PRL blood prolactin concentration, PSI physiological strain index, PV plasma volume, RH relative humidity, RPE rating of perceived exertion, SkBF skin blood flow, SR sweat rate, SV stroke volume, Tcore core temperature, TD thermal discomfort, Thead head skin temperature, TS thermal sensation, Tsk skin temperature, TT time trial, TTE time to exhaustion, VE minute ventilation, VO2 oxygen uptake, VO2max maximal oxygen uptake, Wc water consumed