Skip to main content

Table 4 Effect of combined neck, head and face 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

Tlocal

Perceptual outcomes

Thermoregulatory outcomes

Performance outcomes

Simmons et al. [56]

6 males, 3 females

34 ± 1 °C, < 30% RH sauna temp = 68 ± 3 °C

Head & face cooling (Ice packs placed around whole head)

Two 12-min cycling tests at 70% VO2max separated by a passive heating period in sauna

NA

↓ TS & RPE

↓ Tcore & Tsk, → HR

→ Exercise time

Wiewelhove et al. [59]

8 male tennis players

31.8 ± 2.1 °C, 48.5 ± 9.6% RH

Neck & face cooling (ice-filled damp towel & electric fanning at 1 m distance)

45-min simulated tennis match

↓ Tneck & Tface

↓ TS

↓ HR, ↑ RR

→ Exercise time

Palmer et al. [60]

14 male runners

33 °C, 55% RH

Head & neck cooling (water-perfused hood (1.1 L/min, 1 °C, 6.2 m PVC tubing)

Running 30 min at 60% VO2max followed by 15-min running TT

NA

↓ TS & TC, → RPE

↓ Tcore, → HR

↑ Distance (3.3%)

Gordon et al. [61]

14 males

35 °C, 50% RH

Head & neck cooling (water-perfused hood & neck cooling, Tin = 3 °C)

Cycling 60 min at 50% VO2max

↓ Tneck

↓ TS

→ Tcore, → MVC, ↑ PF, ↓ MVF & CAR & CF,

NA

Goosey-Tolfrey et al. [62]

8 wheelchair tennis players

30.4 ± 0.6 °C, 54 ± 3.8% RH

Head & neck cooling (water absorbing crystals, refreshed every 10 min, T unknown)

60-min intermittent sprint trials

NA

↓ TS & RPE

↓ Wc, → HR & Bla

NA

Simmons et al. [63]

6 males, 4 females

25 °C, 50% RH increased to 45 °C, 50%RH

Head & neck cooling (water conditioned balaclava, Twater =  = 3 °C)

Passive heating

↓ Tneck

↓ TD

↓ HR, ↑ SV, → CO

NA

Ronald et al. [64]

10 males, 10 females

30 ± 1 °C, 54 ± 5% RH

Head & neck cooling (evaporating ice water absorbed by material [poplin fabric cover & ties placed at forehead & neck bandanna tied around neck])

Cycling 30 min at 60% VO2max

↓ Thead

→ RPE

→ Tcore & Tsk, → HR & VO2 & SR & PV & BP

NA

  1. → no change, ↑ increase, ↓ decrease, Bla blood lactate concentration, BP blood pressure, CAR central activation ratio, CF central fatigue, CO cardiac output, Gluc glucose concentration, HR heart rate, MVC maximal voluntary contraction, MVF maximal voluntary force, NA not available, PF peripheral fatigue, PPO peak power output, PRL blood prolactin concentration, PV plasma volume, RH relative humidity, RPE rating of perceived exertion, RR ratings of recovery, SkBF skin blood flow, SR sweat rate, SV stroke volume, Tcore core temperature, TD thermal discomfort, Tface face skin temperature, Thead head skin temperature, Tlocal local skin temperature, Tneck neck skin temperature, TS thermal sensation, Tsk skin temperature, TT time trial, TTE time to exhaustion, VO2 oxygen uptake, VO2max maximal oxygen uptake, Wc water consumed