Cooling Aids - Ergogenic Aids

Question 1

What are cooling aids ?

Answer 1

A variety of products used to reduce core body temperature pre-event, reduce swelling in soft tissue injuries and promote recovery post-event.

Question 2

What are the potential benefits of cooling aids ?

Answer 2

Pre-event cooling (8-30 minutes before):
- allows exercise intensity to be sustained by reducing cardiovascular strain due to increased body temperature.

Post-event cooling to promote recovery:
- reduce swelling due to microscopic tears in muscle fibres causing DOMS
- benefit removal of lactic acid
Post-event cooling to treat injuries:
— relieves pain and reduces swelling

Question 3

Risk of using cooling aids ?

Answer 3

• ice vests can cause vasoconstriction of arteries, decreasing blood flow
• ice burns
• increased risk of complicating injuries due o masking pains

Question 4

Where may cooling aids be seen ?

Answer 4

• (pre-event) endurance athletes competing in heat.

-(post-event) any athlete: used to promote recovery and reduce swelling