Key Takeaway
Palm cooling between sets of bench press allowed subjects to perform more volume with less fatigue compared to passive rest.
Summary
This study extended the palm cooling research to bench press, demonstrating that the benefits aren't limited to bodyweight exercises. Subjects who used palm cooling between sets were able to maintain higher performance across multiple sets.
The cooling intervention helped subjects avoid the typical performance drop-off seen in later sets, resulting in more total training volume. The effect was most pronounced in subjects who naturally ran hotter during exercise.
This study helped establish that palm cooling benefits extend beyond pull-ups to other resistance exercises where core temperature may limit performance.
Methods
- Subjects performed multiple sets of bench press
- Compared palm cooling between sets vs passive rest
- Measured rep performance across sets
- Monitored core temperature
Key Results
- Palm cooling group maintained higher reps in later sets
- Less performance drop-off between sets
- Greater total volume achieved
- Core temperature rose less in cooling group
Limitations
- Specific protocol details vary
- Effect size may depend on training environment temperature
- Individual variation in response