General FACTs
• During physical activity, only 25% of the energy produced by the muscles is used to produce movement. The remaining 75% accumulates in the body as heat. As the activity rate increases, the rate of heat production increases. (That is, as more heat is generated from activity, less energy is available for movement and performance). (South Africa, 2004 - Note 1)
• The human body's natural response to a build up in heat is to divert more blood flow to the skin surface. This can contribute to a decline in physical performance as there is less blood flow to the muscles and brain in this situation. In skilled sports like cricket, tennis and squash, this can be telling as a decline in fine decision making skills, reaction ability and general coordination can make a difference between winning or losing.
• In extended physical activity, the body's sweat response is also likely to be triggered. Failure to replace the fluids lost can result in a loss of physical ability and risk eventual cramping.
• There are a number of studies which support that performance endurance under warm conditions is reduced; creating less power and an earlier quitting time.
(Germany 2006 - Note 2)
FACT - Body Cooling INCREASES PERFORMANCE
• Body precooling increased the maximum physical power output and reduced the negative effect of increased outside temperature
• Precooling is an effective technique for improving performance
FACT - Body Cooling GIVES YOU MORE POWER
• Interval ice treatment between weight lifting sets is associated with increased work, velocity and power
from the USA
• Participants performed 14.1% more total work and 14.5% more arm pulls during the ice treatment between sets
FACT - Body cooling Helps you RECOVER FASTER
• Recovery ability and time was improved in 100% of the participants in a German study.
• Six of 10 participants reported having less soreness on the day after lifting when treated with interval ice treatement from the USA |
