The Effects of Palm Cooling on Repeat Sprint Ability Following a Fatigue Inducing Protocol in Collegiate Female Athletes.

Abstract

Cooling glabrous skin sites, such as the palms, can mitigate core body temperature rise and delay fatigue during physical activity, potentially enhancing performance. However, research on palm cooling (PC) in female athletes remains limited, and existing devices are often costly or impractical. This study evaluated the effects of PC using a novel, cost-effective portable device on repeat sprint ability in female collegiate athletes after a fatiguing protocol. Twenty female athletes (age: 20.1±1.4 years; height: 166.7±6.9 cm; mass: 66.6±9.8 kg; BMI: 24.0±3.9 kg/m²; body fat: 24.9±4.6%) participated in a randomized crossover study. Sessions included a modified Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) followed by a 20-meter repeat sprint test. Athletes used either the PC device (7-15°C) during rest intervals or no cooling (NC). Physiological (heart rate, blood lactate), perceptual (RPE, thermal perception, affect), and performance outcomes (number sprints) were recorded. PC resulted in significantly more successful sprints (≥90% of maximum velocity) than NC (10.3±12.9 vs. 6.0±8.4; p=0.025). No significant differences were observed in perceptual or physiological measures (p>0.05). Palm cooling with a portable device improved repeat sprint ability in female athletes, supporting its use as a practical performance optimization strategy. Further research is warranted to investigate underlying mechanisms and applications across different sports and environmental conditions.