Effects of Lower Limb Cooling on the Work Performance and Physiological Responses During Maximal Endurance Exercise in Humans

摘要

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lower limb cooling on the work performance and physiological responses during maximal endurance exercise in humans. Eight male subjects underwent a maximal aerobic test using graded exercise on a cycle ergometer. The subjects wore trousers lined with tubes perfused water at 6 or 32 °C, and the target thigh muscle temperatures were 32 or 36 °C, respectively. The maximal working time was significantly lower during 32 °C than under 36 °C conditions. However, the body temperature, heat storage, heart rate and the total sweat loss were significantly lower under the 32 °C condition compared to those under the 36 °C condition. These results suggest that cooling the lower limbs to reach a thigh temperature of approximately 32 °C can reduce the physiological strain during maximal endurance exercise, although the endurance work performance under the 32 °C condition is lower than that under the 36 °C thigh temperature condition.