1. The effects of an ice bath on heart rate,
temperature, and performance of a leg extension.
Samantha Smithgall, Jeanine Duncan-Remy, Lindsay Costantino
Emelie Obrochta, Samantha Bruno, Justine Degand
Exercise Science Majors - SUNY Fredonia, Fredonia, NY
Methods
SUBJECTS
Included
subjects
were
5
female,
SUNY
Fredonia
students
ranging
from
20
to
22.
All
of
which
had
different
fitness
levels.
Day
1(week
1)
Each
subject
did
a
warm
up
set
of
a
weight
that
was
fairly
easy.
Their
form
was
corrected.
For
the
next
set
the
weight
was
increased
by
20
pounds
and
for
every
set
following
it
was
increased
by
10
lbs
unJl
their
1
RM
was
found.
Week
2
Leg
extension
was
performed
in
3
sets
of
10
reps
at
65%
of
their
one
repeJJon
max.
Day
1
(week
2)
Each
Subject
will
record
resJng
heart
rate
for
one
min
Temperature
will
be
recorded
Subject
will
submerge
them
self
in
an
ice
bath
for
15
minutes
Heart
rate
and
temperature
will
be
recorded
again
Subject
will
aRempt
leg
extension,
3
sets
of
10
at
65%
of
their
one
repeJJon
max.
Day
1
(week
3)
Leg
extension
was
performed
in
3
sets
of
10
reps
at
65%
of
their
one
repeJJon
max.
Figure
1.
Subjects
1
and
4
were
able
to
exectute
3
sets
of
10
reps
at
their
65
%
rm
following
the
ice
bath.
Figure
1
Figure
2
Figure
3
Figure
2.
Subject
2
was
able
to
finish
the
first
2
sets
of
10
reps
at
their
65
%
rm;
however,
they
could
only
do
7
reps
in
the
last
set
following
the
ice
bath.
Figure
4
Figure
3:
Subject
3
was
able
to
complete
all
10
reps
of
their
1st
and
3rd
set
but
could
only
do
7
reps
following
the
ice
bath.
Figure
5.
Subject
5
was
only
able
to
complete
their
1st
set
of
10
reps
and
only
did
5
in
their
2nd
set
and
3
in
their
3rd
set
following
the
ice
bath.
Results
&
Discussion
Heart
Rate
• In
our
research
many
studies
demonstrated
an
increase
in
heart
rate
while
being
exposed
to
cold
temperatures.
• The
reason
our
body
does
this
is
to
maintain
core
temperature;
this
is
known
as
thermoregulaJon.
• In
our
study
there
was
increase
in
our
heart
rate
following
the
ice
bath.
• The
average
increase
in
heart
rate
of
our
5
subjects
was
by
4.4
beats
per
minute.
Temperature
• In
our
research
many
studies
demonstrated
a
decrease
in
core
temperature;
however,
this
was
aVer
being
exposed
to
cold
temperatures
for
a
much
longer
period
of
Jme.
• The
ice
bath
was
only
at
56
degrees
and
our
subjects
were
only
submerged
in
the
ice
bath
for
15
minutes.
• Therefore,
we
did
not
experience
any
noJceable
temperature
variaJons
with
our
subjects
aVer
submerging
up
to
their
thigh
in
the
ice
bath.
• There
may
be
a
more
noJceable
change
if
the
subjects
were
in
colder
water
for
a
longer
period
of
Jme.
Performance
• In
our
research
many
studies
demonstrated
that
short
exposure
to
temperature
condiJons
and
short
task
duraJons
resulted
in
worse
performance
than
longer
duraJons.
• Many
studies
also
demonstrated
an
increased
level
of
difficulty
to
perform
the
same
exercise
in
colder
temperatures.
• In
our
study
not
only
did
our
subject
feel
the
same
intensity
and
repeJJon
was
more
diffcult
aVer
being
exposed
to
the
ice
bath,
their
ability
to
do
so
was
also
decreased
in
numbers.
• 3
out
of
5
of
our
subjects
were
unable
to
complete
1
or
more
sets
of
10
repeJJons.
• The
subjects
described
the
leg
extension
following
the
ice
bath
as
being:
-­‐
“feels
much
more
straining”
-­‐
“can’t
fully
extend”
-­‐
“
could
feel
a
sJcking
point”
-­‐
“
breaking
proper
form”
-­‐
“
barely
finished”
Purpose
&
PredicYons
The
purpose
of
this
study
is
to
examine
the
effect
of
an
ice
bath
on
the
performance
of
a
leg
extension.
1)
Performance
(repeJJons)
will
decrease
following
the
ice
bath
2)
Heart
rate
will
increase
Abstract
In this study we looked at the effects of an ice bath on
performing a leg extension. It is important to answer this
question because many athletes train in the cold or even
perform strenuous activities with muscles that have not been
warmed up. This can also be seen in everyday life when. For
instance, while shoveling the drive way during the winter. In
our study we are hoping to show that performance is
decreased when muscles are cold. Supported articles have
helped us in determining our hypothesis. Evidence and
experience we endure as a group supports our predicted
outcome and results.
Background Information
It helps to understand why performance is decreased by
looking a the physiological effects first, such as heart rate and
core temperature. Bayly explains that resting metabolic rate
increases due to the loss of body heat. This causes heart rate to
increase in order to keep the core temperature at 98.6 degrees
Fahrenheit (known as thermoregulation) and to ensure blood
flow to all the body’s internal organs and muscles. Another
study done by Pilcher came to the conclusion being that
differentiating temperature exposure resulted in an inverted U-
shape with cold exposure of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or less and
hot exposure of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or more resulting in the
worst performance.
Ice Bath: Week 3
Finding Repetition Max
(above)(L-R) Lindsay, and Emelie enjoying
a nice cold ice bath.
(above) The dreadful ice bath that we spent
15 long minutes in.
(above) This is the proper way to
perform a leg extension.
Subject Temperature
Before Ice
Bath
Heart Rate
Before Ice
Bath
Temperature
After Ice Bath
Heart Rate
After Ice Bath
Justine 97.1 72 97.2 80
Jeanine 98.1 76 98 80
Lindsay 97.2 66 97 70
Emelie 98.8 68 98.9 70
Sam 98.6 72 98.8 76
Subject Warm-Up 1st Set 2nd Set 3rd Set 4th Set 5th Set 65 % RM
Justine 8 x 50 lbs 2 x 70 lbs 2 x 80 lbs 2 x 90 lbs 2 x 100 lbs
1 x 110lbs
1 RM
70 lbs
Jeanine 8 x 50 lbs 2 x 70 lbs
1 x 80 lbs
1 RM
50 lbs
Lindsay 8 x 80 lbs 2 x 100 lbs 2 x 120 lbs 2 x 140 lbs 2 x 160 lbs
1 x 170 lbs
1 RM
110 lbs
Emelie 8 x 80 lbs 2 x 100 lbs 2 x 110 lbs 2 x 120 lbs
1 x 130 lbs
1 RM
80 lbs
Sam 8 x 50 lbs 2 x 70 lbs 2 x 90 lbs 2 x 110 lbs 2 x 130 lbs
1 x 140 lbs
1 RM
90 lbs