Effects of Precooling on 30-km Cycling Performance and Pacing in Hot and Temperate Environments

André Maia-Lima; Guilherme Passos Ramos; Michele Macedo Moraes; Diogo Antônio Soares Pacheco; Gustavo Guimarães Aguiar de Oliveira; Cristiano Lino Monteiro de Barros; Luciano Sales Prado; Emerson Silami Garcia

doi:10.1055/s-0042-113465

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2017; 38(01): 48-54
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-113465

Training & Testing

Effects of Precooling on 30-km Cycling Performance and Pacing in Hot and Temperate Environments

André Maia-Lima

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Guilherme Passos Ramos

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

²Brazilian Football Confederation, Rio de Janeiro Brazil

,

Michele Macedo Moraes

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Diogo Antônio Soares Pacheco

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Gustavo Guimarães Aguiar de Oliveira

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Cristiano Lino Monteiro de Barros

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

³Federal University of Uberlândia, School of Physical Education, Uberlândia, Brazil

,

Luciano Sales Prado

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

,

Emerson Silami Garcia

¹Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

⁴Federal University of Maranhão, Department of Physical Education, São Luiz, Brazil

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

This study examined the effects of precooling on performance and pacing during 30-km cycling exercise in hot and temperate environments. 8 trained male cyclists performed 4 trials involving either cooling (PREC_TEMP and PREC_HOT) or no-cooling interventions (TEMP and HOT) prior to a 30-km self-paced cycling exercise in either a hot (35°C, 68% relative humidity) or temperate environment (24°C, 68% relative humidity). Exercise time was longer in HOT (60.62±3.47 min) than in TEMP (58.28±3.30 min; P<0.001), and precooling attenuated this thermal strain performance impairment (PREC_HOT 58.28±3.30 min; P=0.048), but it was still impaired compared with TEMP (P=0.02). Exercise performance in PREC_TEMP (54.58±4.35 min) was no different from TEMP. Initial power output was sustained until the end of the exercise in both TEMP and PREC_TEMP, but was reduced from the 12^th km until the end of the trial in HOT (P<0.05). This reduction was delayed by precooling because power output was reduced only after the 20^th km during PREC_HOT (P<0.05). Heart rate was similar in all conditions throughout almost the entire exercise, suggesting the maintenance of similar relative intensities. In conclusion, precooling was effective in attenuating, but not completely reversing thermal strain performance impairment and offered no ergogenic effect in the temperate environment.

Key words

self-paced - thermoregulation - water immersion - fatigue - heat strain - cardiovascular strain

Full Text

References

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