Menthol mouth rinsing and performance in elite football referees in the heat: A study protocol for a randomized crossover trial

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Roriz, Maria (Author) FCNAUP; Brito, J. (Author) Other; Teixeira, F.J. (Author) Other; Spyrou, K. (Author) Other; Teixeira, Vitor Hugo (Author) FCNAUP

Journal

Title: Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications

Vol. 35

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences

FOS: Medical and Health sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Z-0Y6

DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2023.101202

Abstract (EN): Background: Within professional European competitions, matches can be played in extreme environmental temperatures, ranging from-5 degrees C to +30 degrees C in different countries. Furthermore, the World Cups are usually played in the summer months, when temperatures can exceed 35 degrees C, increasing physiological stress. Practical and cost-effective cooling strategies may be implemented to help players and referees to cope with exercising in the heat. No study has evaluated the effect of non-thermal internal cooling techniques regarding performance responses on elite football referees, so far. This study aims to analyse the effects of a menthol mouth rinse regarding physical, physiological, and perceptual performance in elite male football referees, during a 90-min football protocol in the heat.Methods: At least thirteen male football referees will be recruited to perform two intermittent football protocols, separated by no less than 7 days. After passing the eligibility criteria, the participants will be randomly assigned to 1 of 2 beverages: (1) intervention -menthol solution 0.01% and (2) placebo -noncaloric berry-flavored so-lution, both at room temperature. The beverages will be given before warm-up (pre-cooling) and at the half-time (per-cooling). The trials will follow a randomized counterbalanced crossover design, single blinded, and will take place in indoor facilities, with Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) > 30 degrees C, at the same time of the day to control for circadian variations.Impact of the project: The results of this study are expected to determine whether mouth rinsing a menthol solution before and during a football exercise protocol performed in the heat will alter perceptual measures and help ease physiological strain and attenuate performance decrements in elite male football referees, comparing to a non-cooling strategy. Thus, we can be closer to defining nutritional strategies of internal cooling that may be an advantage for the performance of the football referees in the heat.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8