Assessment Of The OmiusTMCooling Headband On 5-km Running Performance In The Heat

Exercise performed under hot/humid conditions can hinder endurance performance. The use of cooling strategies under these conditions can be advantageous. The OmiusTM headband is purported to reduce the perception of heat and improve performance. It is used by athletes but has not received scientific attention. PURPOSE: Examine the impact of the OmiusTM headband on selected thermal and cardiovascular functions and subjective perceptions and running performance. METHODS: Using a randomized crossover protocol, 10 trained male athletes (28 ± 4 yrs) completed two trials (COOL: OmiusTMheadband, CON: sham headband, 35.0 ± 0.3 °C, 56 ± 3% relative humidity, wind: 13.4 ± 2.0 km/h) comprising a preload period of 70 min of running at 60% VO2max followed by a 5-km running time-trial (TT). In both trials, the headband was sprayed with 6 mL of 20 °C water every 10 min. Participants consumed 500 mL/70 kg body mass/h of water (20 °C) during the preload exercise. RESULTS: Participants started the trials similarly hydrated, as indicated by the non-significant differences in capillary blood osmolality prior to the COOL and CON trials. Body mass loss at the end of the TT was not significantly different between COOL (3.7 ± 0.4%) and CON (3.6 ± 0.2%). Heart rate, aural canal temperature and perceived exertion and whole-body thermal comfort did not significantly differ between COOL and CON during the preload and TT periods. Rectal temperature was significantly lower with CON (− 0.18 ± 0.17 °C) than COOL prior to the preload period; this significant difference persisted during the preload period. Rectal temperature did not differ significantly between conditions during the TT. Forehead temperature was significantly lower with COOL than CON during the preload, but no significant difference was observed at the end of the TT. Perceived forehead thermal comfort was only significantly lower with COOL than CON during the preload period. TT time did not significantly differ between COOL (19.8 ± 1.2 min) and CON (20.2 ± 1.0 min). CONCLUSIONS: In hot/humid conditions, the OmiusTM headband does not improve heart rate, forehead, rectal and aural canal temperatures, perceived exertion, whole-body and forehead thermal comfort and performance during a 5 km running TT preceded by 70 min of moderate-intensity running.