Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the physiological and perceptual effects of three precooling strategies during pre-exercise rest in athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Randomized, counterbalanced. Participants were precooled, then rested for 60 minutes (22.7 ± 0.2°C, 64.2 ± 2.6%RH). SETTING: National Wheelchair Basketball Training Centre, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Sixteen wheelchair basketball athletes with a SCI. INTERVENTIONS: Participants were precooled through; 1) 10 minutes of 15.8°C cold water immersion (CWI), 2) ingestion of 6.8 g/kg(-1) of slushie (S) from sports drink; 3) ingestion of 6.8 g/kg(-1) of slushie with application of iced towels to the legs, torso and back/arms (ST); or 4) ingestion of 6.8 g/kg(-1) of room temperature (22.3°C) sports drink (CON). OUTCOME MEASURES: Core temperature (T(gi)), skin temperature (T(sk)), heart rate (HR), and thermal and gastrointestinal comfort. RESULTS: Following CWI, a significant reduction in T(gi) was observed compared to CON, with a greatest reduction of 1.58°C occurring 40 minutes post-cooling (95% CI [1.07, 2.10]). A significant reduction in T(gi) following ST compared to CON was also observed at 20 minutes (0.56°C; [0.03, 1.09]) and 30 minutes (0.56°C; [0.04, 1.09]) post-cooling. Additionally, a significant interaction between impairment level and time was observed for T(gi) and HR, demonstrating athletes with a higher level of impairment experienced a greater reduction in HR and significant decrease in rate of decline in T(gi), compared to lesser impaired athletes. CONCLUSION: CWI and ST can effectively lower body temperature in athletes with a SCI, and may assist in tolerating warm conditions.