The Omius cooling headband, sported by many prime athletes at this summer season’s Olympics (together with Dutch marathon champion Sifan Hassan) claims to chill athletes down, lowering athletes’ notion of warmth and doubtlessly bettering efficiency. A brand new research investigated how effectively they ship on that promise, and the outcomes are blended.
The research, carried out by researchers out of Sherbrooke, Que., printed within the Journal of Thermal Biology, explored how effectively the expertise in these cooling headbands impression efficiency.
The science behind the headscarf
The Omius headbands, initially utilized by triathletes, function 20 squares of graphite that present cooling by absorbing sweat; their irregular surfaces enormously improve the quantity of floor space topic to sweat evaporation, which speeds cooling. The graphite items contact the pores and skin instantly and are held in place by a silicon grid. The headbands are stated to supply cooling so long as wanted, so long as they keep moist and are topic to airflow (both outside, or from a fan, if getting used indoors).
The research
Researchers had 10 male athletes carry out two trials—one whereas carrying the Omius headband and one other with a sham headband (i.e., placebo)—beneath sweltering situations (35 C, 56 per cent humidity). The protocol included a 70-minute sub-maximal run (at lower than 80 per cent of max coronary heart price), adopted by a 5K time trial (max effort). Researchers tracked a number of measures, together with coronary heart price, physique temperature and the way scorching the athletes reported feeling.
Right here’s the kicker: the Omius headband did decrease athletes’ brow temperature and made the runners really feel extra snug, however carrying it didn’t result in important enhancements in key efficiency metrics like coronary heart price, core physique temperature and 5K time.
i get this advert on a regular basis, apparently this can be a cooling headband (??) however i would like it to be a set of diet blocks that you just put on round and eat when it’s essential to and so they present all of your vitamins for the week. that is the long run i would like pic.twitter.com/Fk4HHYllVh
— Lindsay B (@theonlylindsayb) August 25, 2024
The actual takeaway
Whereas the Omius headband improved brow thermal consolation, it didn’t decrease the extra vital rectal temperature, which is a stable measure of core physique warmth. Rectal temperature was really barely larger with the Omius headband in the beginning of the sub-maximal run. This implies that whereas cooling your brow could make you really feel higher, it doesn’t essentially translate into physiological enhancements that enhance endurance or efficiency.
Perceived exertion and coronary heart price didn’t differ considerably between the Omius headband and the placebo headband. So, whilst you may really feel barely cooler and extra snug with the Omius headband, don’t count on it’s going to allow you to shave minutes off your race time.
Value it?
If you happen to’re in search of one thing that helps you are feeling cooler whereas operating within the warmth, a cooling headband can do the trick. (We tried it on, and it does really feel cool in opposition to the pores and skin; for athletes who wrestle within the warmth, it may very well be price it for the decreased discomfort.) However for those who’re hoping it’ll enhance your operating efficiency or make a serious distinction in your general warmth regulation, the science doesn’t appear to again that up. Researchers recommend broader cooling methods, like cooling vests, as a greater guess for athletes seeking to keep cool and enhance efficiency in scorching situations.