Cooling vest for athletes: New cooling vest can help sports athletes cope with body heat and stay cool in hot summer conditions.

‘New cooling vest can help sports athletes cope with body heat and stay cool in hot summer conditions.’
Read More..

Athletes have to worry about performing under pressure of the high-stakes competition but also now have to deal with a very hot and humid climate. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will also have high temperatures and athletes must use cooling strategies during the competition. Read More..





Professor Hiroshi Hasegawa of the Graduate School of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Hiroshima University says that this is an increasing problem for athletes due to both competition timing and increased temperatures due to global warming.
Illness due to heat can have serious consequences outlines Hasegawa:
"Because our body temperature is usually around 37°C, if your body temperature increases over 40°C that is a very big problem."
Dehydration, decreased performance and decreased brain function are the dangers faced when our core body temperature climbs too high.
Advertisement
Hasegawa recruited athletes from the Hiroshima University football team to test the vest. Participants exercised for 30 minutes followed by 15 minutes of rest, with and without the cooling vest, then exercised for a final 30 minutes in a format similar to a soccer match. The athletes who wore the vest at half-time showed increased performance in the second half. They also said that they felt more comfortable in the second half, an important factor as comfort and relaxation during half time is important to avoid stress during a game.
Advertisement
"Normally to avoid the heat illness it's better not to do any exercise. But if you have to exercise in the heat it's better not to drink water, it's better to drink sports drink because they contain electrolytes and some energy... Cooling your body is very important, especially the upper body." says Hasegawa.
In the future, Hasegawa would like to test this technology with people with disabilities who might find it more difficult to regulate body temperature.
Source-Eurekalert