Year: 2011
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The rise in body core, skin and muscle temperatures associated with exercisein hot environments (~30°C and above) is known to impair performance over avariety of exercise modes and durations. Precooling has become a popular strategy tocombat this impairment, as evidence has shown it to be an effective method forlowering pre-exercise core temperature, increasing heat storage capacity andimproving exercise performance in the heat. To date, the majority of precoolingmanoeuvres are achieved via external means, such as cold water immersion and theapplication of cooling garments; methods which have been criticised for their lack ofpracticality for use in major sporting competitions. However, recent evidence hasshown that internal or endogenous cooling methods, such as drinking cold fluids, areable to lower core temperature and enhance endurance performance in the heat. Thismethod may be more advantageous than current forms of precooling, as ingestingcold fluids is easily implemented in the field and provides the additional benefit ofhydrating athletes. Based on the law of enthalphy of fusion, which states that asignificantly greater amount of heat absorption is required for water to change phasefrom solid to liquid (melt), the ingestion of an ice slurry mixture may be a morepowerful means for lowering pre-exercise core temperature. Therefore, the primaryfocus of this PhD thesis was to determine the effectiveness of ice slurry ingestion asa precooling manoeuvre for improving submaximal exercise performance in the heat,as well as investigate the potential mechanisms behind the improvements observed.
Author: Rodney B. Siegel
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1501461654