Acute Cold and Combined Cold-Hypoxia Exposure on Physical Performance

Data generated from a study aimed to evaluate the effects of acute cold air exposure and the combination of cold air and simulated altitude (hypoxia) on performance during three bouts of repetitive sandbag deadlifts performed to volitional exhaustion. Performance and exertional fatigue were assessed by quantifying the number of repetitions and time to exhaustion in each bout, with blood lactate levels measured from a fingertip sample between bouts. Additionally, we employed a multi-modal approach to evaluate neuromuscular activity and thigh muscle hemodynamics during the deadlift task, using wearable electromyography (EMG) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors. Through these technologies, we assessed how environmental exposures influenced muscle electrochemical and hemodynamic states, and tracked the progression of fatigue across each sandbag deadlift bout.