Cool hands can make exercise easier! and more fun?

Yes, a recent study suggests that for some, cool hands may be the key to a regular exercise routine.  


Some people get hot and don't like being sweaty and feel generally uncomfortable because of the heat generated during exercise.  If that is what is limiting your exercise program or someone you know, try carrying a cold water bottle or two!  Don't try this without checking with your doctor and especially if your have Raynaud's phenomenon.


Staying cool may enable you to remain comfortable and exercise longer and harder.  Simply cooling the hands may pull enough heat from the body for a more pleasant exercise time.


A recent study, presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism by Dr. Stacy Sims is preliminary, but exciting!


24 women began a 3 times a week exercise regimen and continued for 12 weeks.  Each session included 10 minutes warm up, 25-45 minutes walking on a treadmill and 10 minutes cool down.  All had a BMI of 30-34.9 kg/m or 20-30% over the ideal.  The experiment group held on to a cooling device called the AvaCore Rapid Thermal Exchange, circulating 60.8º F water.  See one at http://www.avacore.com/applications/athletic.  The water was 98.6º F for the control group. 


The results were quite remarkable with multiple benefits for the cool hand group!


Almost 100% of the cool hand group finished the study and only 78% of controls.
The cool group noted more energy, less fatigue and less muscle soreness.


The control group made no improvements during the 12 weeks but the cool hands made several gains when comparing baseline to end of study:

• walked 1.5 miles in 5 minutes faster time
• exercising heart rate increased from 136 bpm to 154 bpm
• waist-line decreased 3 inches from 41.8 to 39.1 
• Bp improved from 139/84 to 124/70

The device used in the experiment is a $3000 piece of equipment used by high-priced sports teams, but how about a frozen water bottle?  You can even drink a little along the way!

Longer, better exercise, feel better; ultimately fewer breast cancers.

This content is intended as information and not intended as personal medical advice.

Together we can prevent 75,000 breast cancer cases each year!