Hand and forearm cooling: exploring deep-body cooling in hyperthermic individuals following exercise-induced heating at three different work rates

The purpose of this study was to evaluate upper-limb cooling following (treadmill) exercise performed in the heat (33℃, 70% relative humidity) at each of three speeds: light (6 km.h–1), intermediate (8 km.h–1) and moderate intensity (10 km.h–1). In all trials, exercise ceased when rectal temperature reached 39.0℃. Participants adopted a sitting position for a 20-min recovery, and liquid-cooling sleeves with cold water (6.3℃ were immediately positioned. The chosen work rates resulted in a two-fold difference in exercise duration across those trials, which terminated without significant between-trial differences within either auditory canal or rectal temperatures. Auditory canal temperature elevation rates became progressively faster as the work rate increased: 0.03℃.min–1 (light), 0.05℃.min–1 (intermediate) and 0.07℃.min–1 (moderate) (p0.05). That outcome was reflected in auditory canal cooling rates (0.03℃.min–1 [light], 0.04℃.min–1 [intermediate] and 0.05℃.min–1 [moderate]). Nevertheless, rectal temperatures continued to rise throughout recovery. It is concluded that heat extraction from moderately hyperthermic individuals, using upper-limb cooling sleeves, appears to be equally rapid, regardless of heating speed, providing the same level of hyperthermia was attained prior to initiating treatment.