Continuous palm cooling’s effect on heat transfer and physiology

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Excess heat accrual is perhaps the body’s most dangerous exercise-induced stressor. While palm cooling uses conduction to reduce body temperatures, to date the volume of heat transferred by this treatment resulting from exercise is unknown. OBJECTIVE: Asses continuous palm cooling’s impact on heat transfer and physiology. METHODS: Thirty-one subjects did two workouts; one with, and one without, palm cooling. Workouts entailed consecutive stages of submaximal pedaling against prescribed workloads. Gloves were worn at workouts; for palm cooling 10.6∘C gel packs were inserted into gloves at the workout’s start and conclusion. Heart rate, auditory canal and palm skin temperatures, and heat transfer across the palm were collected. Data were obtained pre-exercise, at the end of a warm-up, and at multiple times during the 25 minutes of pedaling and 30 minutes of recovery. RESULTS: Auditory canal temperatures had a significant treatment effect (palm cooling < non-palm cooling). Palm skin temperature had an interaction, with higher non-palm cooling values at multiple times. Conversely, heat transfer also produced an interaction, but palm cooling had significantly higher values at multiple times. Heat transfer was 32% higher for the palm cooling workout. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous palm cooling produced significantly higher heat transfer from submaximal exercise.

Exertional Heat Illness Prevention

“…Palm cooling led to significant ergogenic and physiological benefits when compared with a noncooling condition (24)(25)(26)(27). Many benefits were attributed to body heat removal; a recent study showed palm cooling elicited 32% higher heat transfer rates during submaximal exercise, as compared with non-palm cooling workouts (24,31). To best facilitate palm cooling, gloves were fabricated to combat body heat accrual (27,31).…”

“…Many benefits were attributed to body heat removal; a recent study showed palm cooling elicited 32% higher heat transfer rates during submaximal exercise, as compared with non-palm cooling workouts (24,31). To best facilitate palm cooling, gloves were fabricated to combat body heat accrual (27,31). The gloves, developed from those marketed to the general public, appear in various configurations (see Figure ).…”

“…Palm cooling gloves, in conjunction with proper hydration and acclimatization when possible, should augment evaporation's efforts at body heat removal and reduce the risk of dehydration. The 32% higher heat transfer rate resulting from submaximal exercise and continuous gel pack application foretells that perhaps even more heat may be removed from more intense physical activity and intermittent palm cooling protocols (31).…”