File
Clijsen R1,2,3, Hohenauer E1,3, Stoop R1, Clarys P3, Deliens T3, Taeymans J3,4
1SUPSI, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, Landquart, Switzerland, 2International University of Applied Sciences THIM, Landquart, Switzerland, 3Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Sport and Physical Education, Brussels, Belgium, 4Bern University of Applied Sciences, Health, Bern, Switzerland
Background: Exercising in high environmental temperatures may cause precocious hyperthermia induced fatigue resulting in a decreased athletes' performance output.
Purpose: This systematic review with meta-analysis investigated the possible effects of pre-exercise cooling on performance output.
Methods: This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines and the PICO model was used to establish the research question. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was applied to assess the validity of the included studies. Study eligibility was given when the studies compared the effects between any kind of pre-cooling and non-cooling strategies prior to exercise on performance output.
Results: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria for quantitative analysis. Risk of bias was high or unclear but the performance bias was low. The estimated standardized mean difference revealed that external pre-cooling (21 studies) enhanced performance (Hedges' g = 0.49 [95% CI: 0.33 to 0.64]), with the main effect observed in endurance cycling or running. Internal (7 studies) and mixed-method (5 studies) pre-cooling failed to significantly affect performance parameters. However, the main output parameter, evaluated in these studies, was peak power output. Subgroup analysis for different outcome measures was not possible because meaningful grouping was not plausible. Limitations of this meta-analysis were the high or unclear risk of bias and the comparability of the included studies.
Conclusion(s): Future studies should also determine the effects of different pre-cooling applications on female and untrained participants. Based on the results of this meta-analysis, it can be concluded that there is some evidence in favour of external pre-cooling to avoid precocious hyperthermia induced fatigue in endurance athletes exercising in hot environments.
Implications: Sports physiotherapist
Keywords: Performance Cooling, Precooling, Meta-Analysis
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Purpose: This systematic review with meta-analysis investigated the possible effects of pre-exercise cooling on performance output.
Methods: This study was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines and the PICO model was used to establish the research question. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was applied to assess the validity of the included studies. Study eligibility was given when the studies compared the effects between any kind of pre-cooling and non-cooling strategies prior to exercise on performance output.
Results: Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria for quantitative analysis. Risk of bias was high or unclear but the performance bias was low. The estimated standardized mean difference revealed that external pre-cooling (21 studies) enhanced performance (Hedges' g = 0.49 [95% CI: 0.33 to 0.64]), with the main effect observed in endurance cycling or running. Internal (7 studies) and mixed-method (5 studies) pre-cooling failed to significantly affect performance parameters. However, the main output parameter, evaluated in these studies, was peak power output. Subgroup analysis for different outcome measures was not possible because meaningful grouping was not plausible. Limitations of this meta-analysis were the high or unclear risk of bias and the comparability of the included studies.
Conclusion(s): Future studies should also determine the effects of different pre-cooling applications on female and untrained participants. Based on the results of this meta-analysis, it can be concluded that there is some evidence in favour of external pre-cooling to avoid precocious hyperthermia induced fatigue in endurance athletes exercising in hot environments.
Implications: Sports physiotherapist
Keywords: Performance Cooling, Precooling, Meta-Analysis
Funding acknowledgements: No funding
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval required: No
Institution: SUPSI
Ethics committee: Zürich
Reason not required: review and meta-analysis
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
