PhD Student

Course start: October 2020
Supervisor: Dr Jeff Aldous
Second Supervisor: Dr Andrew Mitchell

Working Thesis Title

The effectiveness and relevance of practical cooling strategies during team/intermittent sports in a hot environment.

Abstract

The topic of preparing athletes for competing in hot and humid environments, has become progressively more significant due to the increase in globalisation of sports, meaning competitions are frequently being held during summer months and secondly, the rise in climate change has led to athletes to have an increase in exposure to extreme environments such as the heat (Wegmann et al., 2012; Nybo et al., 2017). During the last decade, examples where elite performers have experienced hot ambient temperatures (>30°C) include Rio FIFA World Cup 2014, Beijing IAAF World Championships 2015, Rio Olympics 2016, BBL 2019, and IPL 2020 to name a few.

Nevertheless, during exercise alone, there is a rise in core body temperature due to endogenous heat production via muscular contractions and the body’s inefficiency to release heat. Furthermore, this process is exacerbated in hot ambient temperatures, whereby heat gain surpasses heat removal earlier during exercise performance. Subsequently, critical core temperatures (>40°C) may be reached which potentially causes termination of the exercise bout and heat-related illnesses. Therefore, altering thermal strain via practical cooling strategies such as ice vests, neck ice collars and ice slurry’s can: positively impact performance (pacing strategies), minimise the risk of heat-related illnesses (increase heat transfer) and possibly reduce the chances of events being cancelled within these extreme environments.

For the above reasons, the first aim of my 3-year doctorate is to examine and investigate the effectiveness of cooling strategies within team/intermittent sports, by publishing a meta-analysis within this topic. The second aim is to broaden the knowledge of what elite athletes use to dampen the thermoregulatory burden, whilst competing in the heat; a quantitative questionnaire-based study will be used. From the results of the questionnaire the third aim may change but, the third aim is to build upon the recent frequently used cooling breaks (as seen in previous FIFA World Cup’s at the 30-mins stage) in hot and humid conditions (Chalmers et al., 2019). Finally, the fourth aim is to examine how the findings within a laboratory study (third aim), supplements the outcomes of an ‘in-play’ environment, in association to the most effective and practical cooling strategy. To the best of my knowledge there has only be one previous study focusing on team sports and cooling strategies in the ‘in-play’ environment, which highlights its necessity (Duffield et al., 2013).

Research Questions

• What type of pre-cooling and/or per-cooling is the most effective (practicality vs efficacy)?
• What cooling strategies are currently being used in team/intermittent sports and do athletes have a preference?
• Is there an optimal cooling strategies in terms of magnitude and exposure?
• What are the effects of the duration of team-sports on the benefits of cooling strategies?
• What is the main benefit of using cooling strategies in reference to recovery, illness, training and performance (when do athletes mainly use them)?
• What happens physiologically and to performance during in-play cooling breaks?
• How similar are the cooling benefits in the laboratory compared to the field?

Get Involved

CALLING ALL ATHLETES, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF!

• If you compete, train and/or coach in the heat, we would like to hear about your perceptions, knowledge, and usage of cooling modalities.
• If you would like to take part, please complete our online survey (~15mins) entitled 'The heat stress prevention, and cooling modality questionnaire' bedshealthsciences.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1AjuWFVq4A2baqV

Thank you in advance for your time, your contributions will be greatly appreciated. Please RT/Share this with your network.

About Me

I primarily endeavour to make an impact, whether this being on the sporting field, within a laboratory or throughout general day-to-day life, it is what keeps me going. I graduated with a First-Class Honor's Degree in Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Bedfordshire, which lead to me finding a great interest in environmental physiology and how the body responds to extreme external environments. Also, during my time as an undergrad, I benefitted from liaising and working with the Human Performance Centre at the University, to complete a dissertation topic ‘the effect of practical cooling strategies on physical performance, physiological and perceptual responses during an iSPT in the heat’. Following this, I felt as though I needed to gain valuable experience within scientific research and academia and delve further into the hot topic of exercising in heat, which is why I have decided a PhD is the right route for me at this current time.

Other than University, I have competed in various sports throughout my education from playing for Lincoln City Youth Team and now I have a keen interest in triathlon, athletics, and tennis.

Contact Information

E: jake.scott1@study.beds.ac.uk
Twitter: @JakeScott_PhD
LinkedIn: uk.linkedin.com/in/jake-scott-a9718719b