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The Science behind palm cooling

Ergogenic and Acrobatic Performance

Ergogenic

Ergogenic tools help Athletes increase capacity for bodily or mental labor especially by eliminating fatigue symptoms.

Caffeine is the perfect example of a well-known ergogenic aid.  Intended to enhance physical performance, stamina, or recovery.

​Recent discoveries in sport science are showing ergogenic effects of cooling specific parts of the body during aerobic and resistive training.  

Chalking Up

The Known Ergogenic Response to Palm Cooling

Participants that used intermittent palm cooling experienced:​​

  • Lower core body temperatures.

  • lower heart rates

  • Lower rate of perceived exertion

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Palm cooling while endurance testing in males and females results in higher total exercise volume and higher repetitions for resistive exercises.​

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Leading Theories

Thermoregulation

By controlling the bodies core temperature muscles are able to stay cool and this thermoregulation via palm cooling enables more endurance and power from the muscles during resistance and aerobic training. 

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Transient Receptor Potential Channels (TRPs)

By stimulating specialized heat sensing cells in the hands, the central nervous system alters perceived pain inadvertently blocking or delaying the sensation of fatigue.

Laboratory Scientist

Sources and Citations

KWON, YOUNG SUB1; ROBERGS, ROBERT A.1,2; KRAVITZ, LEN R.1; GURNEY, BURKE A.3; MERMIER, CHRISTINE M.1; SCHNEIDER, SUZANNE M.1. Palm Cooling Delays Fatigue during High-Intensity Bench Press Exercise. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 42(8):p 1557-1565, August 2010. | DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181d34a53 

Kwon, Young S.1; Robergs, Robert A.2; Mermier, Christine M.3; Schneider, Suzanne M.3; Gurney, Alfred B.4. Palm Cooling and Heating Delays Fatigue During Resistance Exercise In Women. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 29(8):p 2261-2269, August 2015. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31829cef4e 

Brearley, M., Berry, R., Hunt, A. P., & Pope, R. (2023). A Systematic Review of Post-Work Core Temperature Cooling Rates Conferred by Passive Rest. Biology, 12(5), 695. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12050695

Adams, W. M., Hosokawa, Y., Adams, E. L., Belval, L. N., Huggins, R. A., & Casa, D. J. (2016). Reduction in body temperature using hand cooling versus passive rest after exercise in the heat. Journal of science and medicine in sport, 19(11), 936–940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.02.006

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