Palm Cooling Between Sets Reduces Perceived Exertion Without Enhancing Performance During High-Load Deadlifts Original Research
Main Article Content
Keywords
thermal regulation, Resistance training, central sensory feedback
Abstract
Introduction: This study investigated the effects of inter-set palm cooling on performance, physiological, and perceptual responses during high-load deadlift exercise.
Methods: Twelve resistance-trained males (age: 20.6 ± 1.4 years) completed two randomized, counterbalanced experimental sessions involving repeated sets of hex bar deadlifts at 95% of their estimated 5-RM. During rest intervals, participants either sat passively without a device (no palm cooling; NPC) or held a commercially available palm cooling device (palm cooling; PC). Performance metrics (total volume, bar velocity, power, and force), physiological responses (heart rate, core and skin temperature), and perceptual measures (RPE, affect, thermal comfort, and perceived recovery) were recorded.
Results: No significant differences were observed between PC and NPC conditions for performance or physiological outcomes (p>0.05). Although not statistically significant, PC resulted in greater total volume (+15%), partial (concentric-phase) power (+4%), and peak force (+5%). Perceptual responses differed significantly, with PC producing lower RPE (p=0.049), higher affect (p=0.049), and improved thermal comfort (p=0.002), but unexpectedly lower perceived recovery between sets (p=0.001).
Conclusions: PC did not significantly enhance performance or physiological recovery during high-load deadlifts but improved perceptual responses, supporting the hypothesis that PC may modulate central sensory feedback during exercise. These findings suggest PC may be especially useful during high-intensity resistance training in hot environments or for athletes sensitive to thermal strain.
References
2. Schoenfeld BJ, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Effects of resistance training frequency on measures of muscle hypertrophy: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med. 2016;46(11):1689–1697.
3. Schoenfeld BJ, Ogborn D, Krieger JW. Dose-response relationship between weekly resistance training volume and increases in muscle mass: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Sports Sci. 2017;35(11):1073–1082.
4. Westerblad H, Allen DG, Lännergren J. Muscle Fatigue: Lactic Acid or Inorganic Phosphate the Major Cause? Physiology. 2002;17(1):17-21. doi:10.1152/physiologyonline.2002.17.1.17.
5. Bennett AF. Thermal dependence of muscle function. Am J Physiol. 1984;247(2 Pt 2):R217-R229. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.1984.247.2.R217.
6. Wong BJ, Hollowed CG. Current concepts of active vasodilation in human skin. Temperature. 2016;3(3):308–329. doi:10.1080/23328940.2016.1188676.
7. Periard JD, Racinais S, Sawka MN. Adaptations and mechanisms of human heat acclimation: Applications for competitive athletes and sports. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2021;31(4):636–648. doi:10.1111/sms.13883.
8. Cao VA, Grahn DA, Heller HC. Practical cooling strategies for exercise performance: A review of head, neck, and palm cooling. J Therm Biol. 2022;104:103146. doi:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.103146.
9. Grahn D, Cao V, Heller C. Heat extraction through the palm of one hand improves aerobic exercise endurance in a hot environment. J Appl Physiol. 2005;99(3):972–978. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00292.2005
10. Nybo L. Brain temperature and exercise performance. Exp Physiol. 2012;97(3):333–339. doi:10.1113/expphysiol.2011.063701.
11. McMahon G, Kennedy R. The effects of palm cooling on physiological and metabolic responses during resistance training. J Strength Cond Res. 2023;37(11):1–9.
12. Esteves GJ, Garcia RA, Azevedo PHS. Different cooling strategies applied during inter-set rest intervals in high-intensity resistance training. Int J Exerc Sci. 2021;14(2):295–303.
13. Wrabley E, Lagerquist B, Smith G, et al. The effects of palm cooling on repeat sprint ability following a fatigue-inducing protocol in collegiate female athletes. Int J Exerc Sci. 2025;18(3):415–426. doi:10.70252/KSSI2281.
14. Kwon YS, Robergs RA, Kravitz L, et al. Palm cooling delays fatigue during high-intensity bench press exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010;42(8):1557–1565.
15. Robertson RJ, Goss FL, Rutkowski J, et al. Concurrent validation of the OMNI perceived exertion scale for resistance exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;35(2):333–341.
16. ASHRAE. ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers; 2025.
17. Nagle EF, Robertson RJ, Laroche DP, Connolly DA. Perceived exertion, affect, and self-efficacy in response to resistance exercise. Percept Mot Skills. 2017;124(1):139–157.
18. Laurent CM, Green JM, Bishop PA, et al. A practical approach to monitoring recovery: Development of a perceived recovery status scale. J Strength Cond Res. 2011;25(3):620–628. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c69ec6
19. Baechle TR, Earle RW, eds. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. 3rd ed. Human Kinetics; 2008.
20. Haff GG, Triplett NT, eds. Essentials of Strength Training and Conditioning. 4th ed. Human Kinetics; 2015.
21. Flavahan NA. Thermoregulation: The normal structure and function of the cutaneous vascular system. In: Raynaud’s Phenomenon. Springer; 2014:37–55. doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1526-2_4
22. Grodzinsky E, Sund Levander M. Thermoregulation of the human body. In: Understanding Fever and Body Temperature. Springer; 2019:49–65. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-21886-7_5.
23. Moore E, Fuller JT, Buckley JD, et al. Impact of Cold-Water Immersion Compared with Passive Recovery Following a Single Bout of Strenuous Exercise on Athletic Performance in Physically Active Participants: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Meta-regression. Sports Med. 2022;52(7):1667-1688. doi:10.1007/s40279-022-01644-9.
24. McMahon G. No Effect of Interset Palm Cooling on Acute Bench Press Performance, Neuromuscular or Metabolic Responses, Following Moderate-Intensity Resistance Exercise. J Strength Cond Res. 2024;38(7):1213-1220. doi:10.1519/JSC.0000000000004798.
25. Kenville R, Clauß M, Arup A, Ragert P, Maudrich T. No Effect of Intermittent Palm or Sole Cooling on Acute Training Volume during Resistance Exercise in Physically Active Adults: A Summary of Protocols. Sports. 2024; 12(10):281. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports12100281.
26. Grahn DA, Cao VH, Nguyen CM, Liu MT, Heller HC. Work volume and strength training responses to resistive exercise improve with periodic heat extraction from the palm. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(9):2558-2569. doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31823f8c1a.
Article Sidebar
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright, 2025 by the authors. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.