Keep it Cool and beat the Heat- Focus on Tokyo 2020.
With the Tokyo 2020 (2021) Olympics in full swing, I thought we would share some insight into cooling strategies for the athletes. This research was published in June 2020 in the British Journal of sports medicine. I have linked the article at the bottom.
The conditions for athletes, like Guernseys own Cameron Chalmers, competing in Tokyo are going to be very challenging. The expected high ambient and radiant temperatures coupled with high humidity may well induce significant heat stress on the athletes. The research also suggests that the urbanisation and built up nature of Tokyo could add to the athletes heat stress. One of the only benefits of no spectators might be a reduction in the previously expected heat storage which may have negatively affected the athletes performances.
It has been well documented that an increase in core body temperature can lead to reductions in athletic performance. Cooling strategies have been shown to increase time trial performance and reduce time to exhaustion. Therefore, how will the athletes keep cool?
The authors of this paper have suggested a few different cooling strategies might be utilised.
Precooling- Strategies to cool prior to performance
- Cold water immersion (showers/baths)
- Cold water/ ice ingestion
- Cooling / Ice vests
Percooling – Strategies to keep cool during performance
- Water Spray/Dousing
- Cooling/ Ice Vests
- Menthol
Importantly it depends on the type of sport the athlete is competing in as to whether they can incorporate per cooling or are restricted to pre cooling only.
You might see some events with mist spray / dousing for the athletes. This was notably incorporated in Atlanta 1996 for the mountain bike event, with riders passing by large fans creating a mist spray.
Menthol has become an increasing interest to athletes and sports scientists to aid cooling. Menthol sprayed over an athlete in a mist or consumed or rinsed orally may reduce the athletes perceived level of exertion even if it doesn’t reduce their core temperature.
We will likely see athletes utilising a mixture of cooling strategies to cope with the heat in Tokyo, some have been shown to help physiologically and others psychologically. Hopefully they can all compete to the best of their ability without succumbing to the heat stress.
Enjoy the Olympics!
Drew Blatchford- Osteopath
Avenue Clinic.
