Effect of post-exercise body cooling on repeated exercise performance and physiological recovery: A cross-over design study in young athletes

Football is a high-intensity team sport that requires the simultaneous efficiency of aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Player performance largely depends on physiological capacity, and hot environmental conditions can significantly affect both performance and recovery processes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of post-exercise cooling methods on repeated exercise performance and physiological recovery in young athletes. The study included football players aged 15–17 who trained six days a week. The athletes were divided into two groups balanced according to their positions. Each group underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a cycle ergometer with increasing intensity until exhaustion. Following the first test, the cooling group received a cooling vest and water for 15 minutes, while the control group received only water, after which a second CPET was performed. During the 5-minute recovery period after maximal exercise, heart rate recovery index (HRRI) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were evaluated, while body temperature as well as cardiac and pulmonary parameters were monitored throughout the test. Perceived exertion was assessed using the Borg scale, and the protocol was repeated one week later with a crossover design. Within-group analyses revealed significant pre- and post-test changes in body temperature, resting O₂ consumption, VO₂max, pulmonary ventilation, RER, and HRRI in both groups (p<0.05). Between-group comparisons showed that, prior to the second test, body temperature, resting O₂ consumption, VO₂max, and resting ventilation values were lower/more favorable in the cooling group (p<0.05–0.01). Regarding HRRI, the cooling group achieved higher recovery values at multiple time points during the second test compared to the control group (p<0.05–0.01). In RER results, especially during the second test, all values were significantly lower in the cooling group compared to the control group (p<0.01). Baseline heart rate values were higher in the control group (p<0.05–0.01). Keywords: Cooling vest, Exercise performance, Exercise test, Recovery