Research Paper Title

Comparison of Whole-Body Cooling Techniques for Athletes and Military Personnel.

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cooling rates of The Polar Life Pod®, a military protocol and cold water immersion (CWI).

Methods

A randomised, repeated measures design was used to compare three treatment options.

Participants exercised in an environmental chamber, where they followed a military march protocol on a treadmill, followed by the application of one of three treatments:

1. Cold water immersion tub (5 – 10 °C);
2. Polar Life Pod® (5 – 10 °C); and
3. Ice sheets at onset (5 – 10 °C).

Results

Mean cooling rate for:

• CWI was 0.072 ºC/min;
• Ice sheets was 0.046ºC/min; and
• The Polar Life Pod® was 0.040ºC/min

There was a significant difference between conditions (F2,26=13.564, p=0.001, ES=0.511, 1-β=0.969).

There was a significant difference in cooling rate among The Polar Life Pod® and CWI (p = 0.006), and no significant difference among The Polar Life Pod® and Ice Sheets (p = 0.103).

There was a significant difference of time to cool among the three conditions F2,26 = 13.564, p = 0.001, ES = 0.401, 1-β = 0.950.

Conclusions

The researchers results support multiple organisations that deem CWI as the only acceptable treatment, when compared to the cooling rates of The Polar Life Pod® and ice sheets.

Reference

Nye, E.A., Eberman, L.E., Games, K.E., Carriker, C. (2017) Comparison of Whole-Body Cooling Techniques for Athletes and Military Personnel. International Journal of Exercise Science. 10(2), pp.294-300. eCollection 2017.