Adding a cooling vest during cycling improves performance in warm and humid conditions

It is known that warm and humid environment reduces human physical performance. The present study examined whether the use of an ice-vest in such conditions can improve cycling performance. Seven participants cycled with consecutive, non-stop, 10-minute cycles of nine minutes at 60% of their (V) over dot O-2 max punctuated by a one-minute sprint at 80% (V) over dot O-2 max. The cycling protocol was continuously repeated until exhaustion. The protocol was performed with the ice-vest (ICE), worn after 30 min of cycling, and without the ice-vest throughout the protocol (CON). Ventilatory and thermal responses were continuously recorded. Electromyographic (EMG) signals from four muscles of the …