Pushing the limits of performance. is it really mind over matter? an investigation into the effects of menthol mouth rinsing and the capacity for fatigue amelioration in trained adolescent male cyclists under heat stress

This thesis investigated the effects of menthol (MEN) mouth rinsing (MR) on performance responses in trained adolescent male athletes during a modified variable power cycle test (M-VCT). Participants (n=11) cycled for 30-min in hot conditions (31.4±0.9 °C, 23.4±3.7% RH) on two occasions. In a randomized crossover design, (1) menthol MR (0.01%) or (2) placebo (PLA) MR, was administered at 6-min intervals. Power, distance, core temperature, heart rate, surface electromyography, perceptual responses (exertion, thermal stimulation, fatigue, and feeling), and blood lactate were recorded. The MEN MR significantly improved mean power output by 1.81±1.57% relative to PLA (p=<0.001, 95% CI= [1.73-4.46], ES= 1.53). Physiological and perceptual measures did not differ between trials. While individual responses varied to MEN, results demonstrate that a nonthermal cooling agent that acts on the CNS can benefit power regulation during a stochastic cycling task without causing additional decline in perception, as suggested by the central fatigue hypothesis.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Health Sciences (MHSc)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Hawke, Kierstyn V.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Logan-Sprenger, Heather

• Menthol
• Cycling
• Variable cycle test
• Heat stress
• Central fatigue

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1512

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1512