Author(s): KIMMERLY, D., MYATT, H., Institution: DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY, Country: CANADA, Abstract-ID: 176

INTRODUCTION:
Palm cooling (PC) has gained attention as an ergogenic aid to enhance resistance exercise (RE) performance by mitigating thermal strain and delaying fatigue. However, the reliance on relatively impractical and expensive PC equipment limits widespread application [1-3]. This study investigated the impact of the Anti-Fatigue Charge Bar (AVA Cooling Technology)* during rest periods on submaximal RE performance. It was hypothesized that the device would replicate the RE performance benefits observed in earlier studies.
METHODS:
Twenty-four (10F; 21±3 years), healthy participants performed initial one-repetition maximum (1-RM) assessments for machine-based double bicep curl (BC, 46±23kg) and knee extension (KE, 139±39kg) exercises. On separate days, they then completed 6 sets to fatigue at 60%1-RM (3-minute rest intervals) under randomly assigned PC (13±1°C) and thermoneutral (TN, 21±1°C) conditions. Total repetitions and work volume were calculated for each exercise.
RESULTS:
Compared to TN, PC increased total repetitions (BC: 53±15 versus 61±15; LE: 72±14 versus 77±17; both p<0.01) and total work volume (BC: 1616±879 versus 1434±155kg; LE: 6652±2907 versus 6100±2425kg; both p < 0.031).
CONCLUSION:
By increasing total work volume and delaying fatigue, PC offers a promising ergogenic aid that is both accessible and easy to implement. These results support the hypothesis that the Anti-Fatigue Charge Bar PC device was effective at improving submaximal upper- and lower-body RE performance. This relatively practical and inexpensive device replicated the benefits previously reported in studies that used more effective but more cumbersome modalities [1-3].

*, the authors are not affiliated and declare no conflicts of interest with AVA Cooling Technology.

References:

[1] Caruso JF, Barbosa A, Erickson L, et al. Intermittent Palm Cooling's Impact on Resistive Exercise Performance. Int J Sports Med 94: 814–821, 2015.
[2] Grahn DA, Cao VH, Nguyen CM, Liu MT, Heller HC. Work Volume and Strength Training Responses to Resistive Exercise with Core Cooling. J Strength Cond Res 26: 2463-2469, 2012.
[3] Kwon YS, Robergs RA, Kravitz LR, et al. Palm Cooling Delays Fatigue during High-Intensity Bench Press Exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc 42: 1557-1565, 2010.