The Effects of 30-minute Whole-Body Pre-Cooling on Anaerobic Performance Indices in Women Futsal Players

The beneficial effects of pre-cooling techniques on endurance training have been proved, although few studies are conducted on the effects of pre-cooling techniques on high-intensity exercises

The current study aimed to determine the effects of 30-minute whole body pre-cooling on anaerobic performance indices in women futsal players.

Twelve female subjects (age 22.5 ± 2.24, hight159 ± 0.06, weight 55.22 ± 12.73) participated in this cross-design study and were tested randomly after either 30- minute of pre-cooling using ice jackets or under control conditions (no pre-cooling) in two separate sessions with three days interval between each session. This was immediately followed by the RAST anaerobic power test. Buerer FT-70digital thermometer, polar-FT60 heart rate monitoring, micro lifeblood pressure monitoring, hp-cosmos lactometer, and ELISA technique were used to measure core body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, blood lactate, and Lactate dehydrogenase, respectively. T-independent and dependent tests were also applied to compare changes both between and within groups.

Data on core temperature, heart rate, maximum power output, and fatigue index after pre-cooling were significantly higher in the pre-cooling group than the control group (P < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed between the groups concerning the blood lactate levels, mean and minimum power output, and blood pressure (P < 0.05).

In conclusion, the results suggest that 30-minute of whole-body pre-cooling improves repeated bouts of intensive activity through the occlusion of skin vessels to stimulate the blood flow to the active muscles.