<b>Assessment of the Omius</b>^{<strong>TM</strong>}<b> </b><b>cooling headband during a 70-minute submaximal running effort followed by a 5-km time-trial in hot/humid conditions</b>

Exercise performed under hot/humid conditions can hinder endurance performance. The Omius^TM headband (OH) is purported to reduce the perception of heat and improve performance. We examined the impact of OH on selected thermal and cardiovascular functions, subjective perceptions and running performance. Using a randomized crossover protocol, 10 trained male athletes (28 ± 4 years) completed two trials (OH and sham headband (SH), 35.0 ± 0.3ºC, 56 ± 3% relative humidity) comprising 70 min of running (60%O_2max) followed by a 5-km running time-trial (TT). Heart rate, perceived exertion and whole-body thermal comfort did not significantly differ between conditions during the submaximal running effort and TT. Rectal temperature was lower with SH (− 0.11 ± 0.16ºC, <i>p</i> = 0.052) than OH prior to the submaximal running effort; this difference slightly accentuated (− 0.14 ± 0.20ºC, <i>p</i> = 0.043) during the submaximal running effort.Rectal temperature did not differ significantly between conditions during the TT. Forehead temperature was significantly lower with OH than SH during the submaximal running effort, but no significant difference was observed at the end of the TT. Scores of perceived forehead thermal comfort was only significantly lower with OH than SH during the submaximal running effort. TT performance did not significantly differ between OH (19.8 ± 1.2 min) and SH (20.2 ± 1.0 min). In conclusion, OH reduces forehead temperature and forehead thermal comfort but not rectal temperature, heart rate and perceived exertion during, nor 5-km TT performance following, 70 min of submaximal running in the heat.在高温高湿环境下进行运动，会对耐力表现产生阻碍作用。据称Omius^TM头带（OH）可降低热感知并提升运动表现。本研究考察了OH对选定的体温调节与心血管功能、主观感知以及跑步表现的影响。本研究采用随机交叉试验设计，10名经过训练的男性运动员（年龄28±4岁）完成了两组试验：佩戴OH组与假头带（SH）组，试验环境为温度35.0±0.3℃、相对湿度56±3%，试验内容包括70分钟的亚极量跑步（运动强度为60%最大摄氧量_2max），随后进行5千米计时跑（TT）。在亚极量跑步阶段与计时跑阶段，两组的心率、自觉劳累分级以及全身热舒适度均无显著差异。在亚极量跑步开始前，假头带组的直肠温度较OH组低0.11±0.16℃（p=0.052）；该差异在亚极量跑步阶段进一步扩大，为0.14±0.20℃（p=0.043）。在计时跑阶段，两组的直肠温度无显著差异。在亚极量跑步阶段，OH组的前额温度显著低于SH组，但在计时跑结束时两组无显著差异。前额热舒适度的自评得分仅在亚极量跑步阶段，OH组显著低于SH组。计时跑表现方面，OH组（19.8±1.2分钟）与SH组（20.2±1.0分钟）无显著差异。综上，在高温环境下进行70分钟亚极量跑步后，OH仅可降低前额温度与前额热舒适度，既未对跑步期间的直肠温度、心率及自觉劳累分级产生影响，也未改善后续5千米计时跑的表现。