Cooling hands

Cooling the palms with a comfortably cool object can help lower core temperature and support exercise performance and recovery.

• Cooling sites: The palms, upper face, and soles of the feet are effective heat-release surfaces; cooling them can lower core temperature more efficiently than cooling other body areas. 1
• Between sets: Hold a cool object—such as a cold-water bottle or chilled can—against the palms for about one to two minutes between sets. Avoid extreme cold: if the palms vasoconstrict, heat release is reduced. 2 3
• Cooling device: CoolMitt is a palmar-cooling glove that circulates water at a temperature intended to avoid palm vasoconstriction. 4
• Reported comparison: In a study of people made hyperthermic, cooling the palms, soles, and face produced twice the cooling rate of cold packs placed at the neck, armpits, and groin. 5