On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Athletes Should Just Chill--August 9, 2007
Some isolated studies have hinted that athletes might be better off if they can better dump off some of the heat their muscles generate. Now comes new research that adds credence to the idea that athletes indeed should just chill.
Other studies have tested the idea of cooling down athletes after their workouts to improve recovery, but this study looked at the effect of chilling them before their workouts to improve performance.
Scientists from a couple of German universities put more than 50 athletes into a cooling chamber, where the temperate was a frosty minus 120 degrees. The athletes stayed in the deep freeze for two and a half minutes. They then did an endurance run at 90 percent of their maximum capacity. After six months, the cooled athletes showed much better results and a increased oxygen carrying capacity.
The scientists think that chilling slows the inevitable rise in body temperate that impedes performance. Chilling also conserves body fluids, because the competitor doesn’t have to sweat as much to cool down. Look for icy athletes at the summer Olympics next year in Beijing.
