Development of an Active Heat Dissipation Device Based on Thermoelectric Cooling Technology: Aiming to Improve Endurance Sports Performance

Summary

This project investigates the effectiveness of pre-exercise active cooling using a temperature-controlled cooling vest in reducing heat-related physiological strain during endurance-type aerobic exercise in non-regularly trained ("weekend") athletes under hot and humid environmental conditions. Because these individuals often lack sufficient heat-acclimation training, they are at increased risk of excessive thermal stress, cardiovascular overload, and heat-related disorders during prolonged exercise.

Using a controlled laboratory design, participants will perform moderate-intensity endurance exercise in a simulated hot environment, with or without pre-cooling intervention. Peripheral circulation and thermoregulatory responses will be assessed through laser Doppler flowmetry based skin blood-flow analysis and infrared thermography, alongside heart rate and perceived exertion measures.

The study aims to clarify how active pre-cooling influences vascular regulation, sympathetic activity, skin temperature distribution, and exercise tolerance, and to evaluate its potential as a practical, non-fatiguing alternative to heat-acclimation training. The findings are expected to provide evidence-based guidance for reducing heat strain and improving exercise safety and comfort in recreational endurance athletes exercising in hot climates.

Conditions

• Heat Stroke

Interventions

DEVICE

TEC Vest

Intervention 1: Active Pre-Cooling Vest Type: Device (active cooling garment) Timing: 30 minutes before exercise (pre-cooling period) Procedure: Participants wear the temperature-controlled vest in a hot/humid lab setting before the endurance aerobic exercise test. Purpose: Reduce thermal strain and cardiovascular load; improve comfort; modulate peripheral circulation responses.

OTHER

No Pre-Cooling (Without Vest)

Intervention 2: No Pre-Cooling Without Vest Type: No intervention / usual condition Timing: 30 min Duration Procedure: Participants rest quietly for the same pre-exercise duration without wearing a cooling vest, then complete the identical warm-up and exercise protocol.

DEVICE

Water Cooled Vest

Type: Device (active cooling garment) Timing: 30 minutes before exercise (pre-cooling period) Procedure: Participants wear the water cooled vest in a hot/humid lab setting before the endurance aerobic exercise test. Purpose: Reduce thermal strain and cardiovascular load; improve comfort; modulate peripheral circulation responses.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kaohsiung Medical University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Guo LY Professor and Dean of College of Health Sciences, P.hD · Department of Sports Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Taiwan

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-02-01

Primary Completion

2027-02-28

Completion

2027-05-31

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations