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Mixed-methods pre-match cooling improves simulated soccer performance in the heat : cooling during simulated soccer

  • Jeffrey Aldous
    ,
  • Bryna C. Chrismas
    ,
  • Ibrahim Akubat
    ,
  • Charlotte Stringer
    ,
  • Grant Abt
    ,
  • Lee Taylor
Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Open access

Abstract

This investigation examined the effects of three pre-match and half-time cooling manoeuvres on physical performance and associated physiological and perceptual responses in eight University soccer players during a non-motorised treadmill based individualised soccer-specific simulation [intermittent soccer performance test (iSPT)] at 30oC. Four randomised experimental trials were completed; following 30-min (pre-match) and 15-min (half-time) cooling manoeuvres via: (1) ice slurry ingestion (SLURRY); (2) ice-packs placed on the quadriceps and hamstrings (PACKS); (3) mixed-methods (MM; PACKS and SLURRY concurrently); or no-cooling (CON). In iSPT first half, a moderate increase in total (Mean ± Standard Deviation: 108 ± 57m, qualitative inference: most likely, Cohen’s d: 0.87, 90%CL: ±0.31), high-speed (56 ± 46m, very likely, 0.68 ±0.38) and variable run (15 ± 5m, very likely, 0.81 ±0.47) distance covered was reported in MM compared with CON. Additionally, pre-match reductions in thermal sensation (-1.0 ± 0.5, most likely, -0.91 ±0.36), rectal (-0.6 ± 0.1oC, very likely, -0.86 ±0.35) and skin temperature (-1.1 ± 0.3oC, very likely, -0.88 ±0.42) continued throughout iSPT first half. Physical performance during iSPT first half was unaltered in SLURRY and PACKS compared to CON. Rectal temperature was moderately increased in SLURRY at 45-min (0.2 ± 0.1oC, very likely, 0.67 ±0.36). Condition did not influence any measure in iSPT second half compared to CON. Only MM pre-match cooling augmented physical performance during iSPT first half, likely due to peripheral and central thermoregulatory factors favourably influencing first half iSPT performance. Further practical half-time cooling manoeuvres which enhance second half performance are still required.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output:
Contribution to journal
Article
 Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 156-165

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

European Journal of Sport Science (Volume 19, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Published - 24/07/2018

Publication status

Published - 24/07/2018

ISSN

1746-1391

Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/622795
  • Scopus: 85050911941

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