Effect of ice slushy ingestion and cold water immersion on thermoregulatory behavior
Journal article, 2019

Two studies were conducted to examine the effects of ice slushy ingestion (ICE) and cold water immersion (CWI) on thermoregulatory and sweat responses during constant (study 1) and self-paced (study 2) exercise. In study 1, 11 men cycled at 40–50% of peak aerobic power for 60 min (33.2 ± 0.3°C, 45.9 ± 0.5% relative humidity, RH). In study 2, 11 men cycled for 60 min at perceived exertion (RPE) equivalent to 15 (33.9 ± 0.2°C and 42.5 ± 3.9%RH). In both studies, each trial was preceded by 30 min of CWI (~22°C), ICE or no cooling (CON). Rectal temperature (Tre), skin temperature (Tsk), thermal sensation, and sweat responses were measured. In study 1, ICE decreased Tre-Tsk gradient versus CON (p = 0.005) during first 5 min of exercise, while CWI increased Tre-Tsk gradient versus CON and ICE for up to 20 min during the exercise (p<0.05). In study 2, thermal sensation was lower in CWI versus CON and ICE for up to 35–40 min during the exercise (p<0.05). ICE reduced thermal sensation versus CON during the first 20 min of exercise (p<0.05). In study 2, CWI improved mean power output (MPO) by ~8 W, compared with CON only (p = 0.024). In both studies, CWI (p<0.001) and ICE (p = 0.019) delayed sweating by 1–5 min but did not change the body temperature sweating threshold, compared with CON (both p>0.05). Increased Tre-Tsk gradient by CWI improved MPO while ICE reduced Tre but did not confer any ergogenic effect. Both precooling treatments attenuated the thermal efferent signals until a specific body temperature threshold was reached.

Author

Hui C. Choo

Edith Cowan University

Jeremiah J. Peiffer

Murdoch University

João P. Lopes-Silva

University of Sao Paulo (USP)

Ricardo Mesquita

Edith Cowan University

Tatsuro Amano

Niigata University

Narihiko Kondo

Kobe University

Chris R. Abbiss

Edith Cowan University

PLoS ONE

1932-6203 (ISSN) 19326203 (eISSN)

Vol. 14 2 e0212966

Subject Categories (SSIF 2011)

Physiology

DOI

10.1371/journal.pone.0212966

More information

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5/8/2025 7