The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of reducing core temperature in postexercise hyperthermic subjects and to assess if hand cooling (HC) improves subsequent timed distance performance. Following a detailed measurement check on the use of insulated auditory canal temperature (T(ac)), eight wheelchair (WA) athletes and seven male able-bodied (AB) athletes performed two testing sessions, comprising a 60-min exercise protocol and 10-min recovery period, followed by a performance trial (1 km and 3 km for WA and AB, respectively) at 30.8 degrees C (SD 0.2) and 60.6% (SD 0.2) relative humidity. In a counterbalanced order, HC and a no-cooling condition was administered during the 10-min recovery period before the performance trial. Nonsignificant condition x time interactions for both WA (F(15,75) = 1.5, P = 0.14) and AB (F(15,90) = 1.2, P = 0.32) confirmed that the exercise-induced changes (Delta) in T(ac) were similar before each intervention. However, the exercise-induced increase was evidently greater in AB compared with WA (2.0 vs. 1.3 degrees C change, respectively). HC produced DeltaT(ac) of -0.4 degrees C (SD 0.4) and -1.2 degrees C (SD 0.2) in comparison (WA and AB, respectively), and simple-effects analyses suggested that the reductions in T(ac) were noteworthy after 4 min of HC. HC had an impact on improving AB performances by -4.0 s (SD 11.5) (P < 0.05) and WA by -20.5 s (SD 24.2) (P > 0.05). In conclusion, extraction of heat through the hands was effective in lowering T(ac) in both groups and improving 3-km performance in the AB athletes and trends toward positive gains for the 1-km performance times of the WA group.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of both pre-exercise and combined pre-exercise and midexercise cooling strategies during simulated match play in elite female soccer players in the heat. Eight elite female soccer players performed two 45 min periods of intermittent running separated by 15 min seated rest on 3 separate occasions (30.6 +/- 0.2 degrees C, 63.4 +/- 2.5% relative humidity). Participants undertook a no-cooling (CON) or ice-vest cooling for 20 min pre-exercise (PRE) or both pre-exercise and during the 15 min rest period (PRE+MID). Rectal temperature (Tre), skin temperatures, and heart rate were monitored continuously. Mean skin temperature (TMS) and heat storage were calculated. Significant interactions (trial x time) were observed for the change in Tre from rest, TMS, and heat storage (p < 0.05). The change in Tre from rest was greater during CON when compared with PRE and PRE+MID from 35 min until the end of exercise (p < 0.05). When compared with CON (p < 0.05), TMS was lower after precooling (PRE and PRE+MID) and during the 15 min rest period and the first 5 min of the second exercise bout for PRE+MID. Heat storage was also lower after precooling (PRE and PRE+MID) (p < 0.05) and from 60 min until the end of exercise for PRE+MID (p < 0.05) and until 85 min and again at 95 min during PRE (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that both cooling strategies were effective in reducing thermal strain during intermittent exercise in the heat. However, PRE+MID cooling was more effective than PRE cooling in offsetting heat storage.

International Journal of Sports Science and Coaching * in 2013 CPISRA made changes to the rules and now only one C8 is permitted to play at any given time 2 ABSTRACT To investigate the soccer match-play work of players with Cerebral Palsy (CP), 40 elite players were monitored for cardiovascular and locomotive demands of tournament match-play. Using GPS and HR monitors, total distance travelled, distance travelled at high intensity (HI) and very high intensity (VHI)(m); frequency of HI and VHI activity; heart rate (HR). Disability classes C5/6, C7, C8 were compared. The results showed C8 players covered the greatest distance. Frequency, contribution and maximum speed of HI and VHI activity was greater in C8. There was a progressive decline in distances covered in all classes across match quarters. C8 spent more time above 85% HRmax. No differences were observed between C5/6 and C7 classes. In conclusion, C8 players most notably perform best in VHI activity associated with gamedefining moments. C5/6 and C7 players performed equitably. This study is the first to provide an insight for practitioners and coaches interested in the work rates in soccer for athletes with CP.