Open Access
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sports Med Int Open 2021; 05(03): E91-E98
DOI: 10.1055/a-1588-3126
Physiology & Biochemistry

Effects of Half-Time Cooling Using a Fan with Skin Wetting on Thermal Response During Intermittent Cycling Exercise in the Heat

Authors

  • Jumpei Osakabe

    1   Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
  • Masanobu Kajiki

    1   Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
  • Kiho Kondo

    2   Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Wellness, Shigakkan University, Obu, Japan
  • Takaaki Matsumoto

    1   Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
  • Yoshihisa Umemura

    1   Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of half-time (HT) break cooling using a fan and damp sponge on physiological and perceptual responses during the 2nd half of a repeated-sprint exercise in a hot environment. Eight physically active men performed a familiarization trial and two experimental trials of a 2×30-min intermittent cycling exercise protocol with a 15-min HT break in hot conditions (35°C, 50% relative humidity). Two experimental trials were conducted in random order: skin wetting with a fan (FANwet) and no cooling (CON). During the 2nd half, a repeated-sprint cycling exercise was performed: i. e., 5 s of maximal pedaling (body weight×0.075 kp) every minute, separated by 25 s of unloaded pedaling (80 rpm) and 30 s of rest. Rectal temperature, skin temperature (chest, forearm, thigh, and calf), heart rate, physiological strain index, rating of perceived exertion, thermal sensation, and comfort were significantly improved in the FANwet condition (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the repeated-sprint cycling exercise performance between conditions. The results suggest that skin wetting with a fan during the HT break is a practical and effective cooling strategy for mitigating physiological and perceptual strain during the 2nd half in hot conditions.



Publication History

Received: 22 December 2020
Received: 07 August 2021

Accepted: 10 August 2021

Article published online:
25 October 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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