Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females?
We investigated the influence of different-length interim periods after a standardized warm-up on the physiological, perceptual and performance responses in males and females. Fourteen participants (eight females, six males; age: 24.7 ± 5.6 years; V̇O<sub>2</sub>max 54.6 ± 5.5 mL/kg/min)...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Michael D. Kennedy Mirjam Limmer Christopher A. Wichert Aidan K. Comeau Martin Faulhaber |
| author_facet | Michael D. Kennedy Mirjam Limmer Christopher A. Wichert Aidan K. Comeau Martin Faulhaber |
| author_sort | Michael D. Kennedy |
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| description | We investigated the influence of different-length interim periods after a standardized warm-up on the physiological, perceptual and performance responses in males and females. Fourteen participants (eight females, six males; age: 24.7 ± 5.6 years; V̇O<sub>2</sub>max 54.6 ± 5.5 mL/kg/min) completed three environmental chamber trials [0 (CON), 6 (6IP) or 12 (12IP)-minute interim period] preceded by the same 15 min warm-up and followed by a subsequent 8-min running performance trial at −15.0 °C. The maximal knee extension force, heart rate, muscle oxygenation, thermal state, cold discomfort and perceived leg discomfort were measured. The distance run was the same between conditions but the average (<i>p</i> = 0.008) and peak heart rates (<i>p</i> = 0.034), as well as the thermal state (<i>p</i> < 0.001), were all greater in the CON compared to 12IP. Females did have heavier legs and felt colder at the end of the interim periods, with continued heavier legs and cold discomfort across the performance trial, although these increases were not significant (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Thus, increasing the rest time in severe cold alters physiological and perceptual responses, especially in females, but does not influence running performance over 8-min. It is recommended that minimizing wait times will reduce the effects of severe cold air cooling before an outdoor winter sport competition. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7c8f7b4e768419eae0acef2d3b330eb |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-e7c8f7b4e768419eae0acef2d3b330eb2025-08-20T03:06:32ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-03-01157377510.3390/app15073775Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females?Michael D. Kennedy0Mirjam Limmer1Christopher A. Wichert2Aidan K. Comeau3Martin Faulhaber4Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, CanadaInstitute for Outdoor Sports and Environmental Research, German Sports University Cologne, 50933 Köln, GermanyDepartment of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaSchool of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver Campus, University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, CanadaDepartment of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaWe investigated the influence of different-length interim periods after a standardized warm-up on the physiological, perceptual and performance responses in males and females. Fourteen participants (eight females, six males; age: 24.7 ± 5.6 years; V̇O<sub>2</sub>max 54.6 ± 5.5 mL/kg/min) completed three environmental chamber trials [0 (CON), 6 (6IP) or 12 (12IP)-minute interim period] preceded by the same 15 min warm-up and followed by a subsequent 8-min running performance trial at −15.0 °C. The maximal knee extension force, heart rate, muscle oxygenation, thermal state, cold discomfort and perceived leg discomfort were measured. The distance run was the same between conditions but the average (<i>p</i> = 0.008) and peak heart rates (<i>p</i> = 0.034), as well as the thermal state (<i>p</i> < 0.001), were all greater in the CON compared to 12IP. Females did have heavier legs and felt colder at the end of the interim periods, with continued heavier legs and cold discomfort across the performance trial, although these increases were not significant (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Thus, increasing the rest time in severe cold alters physiological and perceptual responses, especially in females, but does not influence running performance over 8-min. It is recommended that minimizing wait times will reduce the effects of severe cold air cooling before an outdoor winter sport competition.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3775extreme environmentsrecovery periodrest durationwinter sportsendurance athletesthermoregulation |
| spellingShingle | Michael D. Kennedy Mirjam Limmer Christopher A. Wichert Aidan K. Comeau Martin Faulhaber Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females? Applied Sciences extreme environments recovery period rest duration winter sports endurance athletes thermoregulation |
| title | Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females? |
| title_full | Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females? |
| title_fullStr | Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females? |
| title_short | Does “Waiting to Start” in Extreme Cold Conditions Alter Physiological, Perceptual and Exercise Performance Responses in Males and Females? |
| title_sort | does waiting to start in extreme cold conditions alter physiological perceptual and exercise performance responses in males and females |
| topic | extreme environments recovery period rest duration winter sports endurance athletes thermoregulation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/7/3775 |
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