Clinical Unit of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, Cattinara University Hospital ASUGI, University of Trieste, Strada Di Fiume, 447, 34149, Trieste, Italy.
Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana, Gortanova 22, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2020 Nov;120(11):2467-2476. doi: 10.1007/s00421-020-04478-3. Epub 2020 Aug 20.
Heat sensitivity is a common contraindication in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), and physical fatigue is one of the most frequently reported symptoms that can affect quality of life. Increases in body temperature may exacerbate fatigue and heat-related symptoms. Decreasing body temperature via cooling devices may mitigate disease symptoms and improve physical abilities and quality of life. This study evaluates the effects of a cooling vest with sham condition on walking capacity using a commercially-available cooling vest specifically designed for pwMS.
A counter-balanced, cross-over design was used to assess the effects of a cooling vest (CryoVest Comfort, CryoInnov, France) (COLD) from a menthol-induced sham condition (CON) on ground walking time to exhaustion (T, s) and distance at exhaustion (D, m) in ambulatory pwMS. Secondary outcomes were heart rate (HR, bpm), thermal sensation (Tsens), skin chest (Tchest) and back (Tback) temperature.
Ten females with Multiple Sclerosis (59 ± 9 years, EDSS 3.0-5.5) participated to the study. During COLD, pwMS walked significantly longer (1896 ± 602 vs. 1399 ± 404 s, p < 0.001) and farther (1879 ± 539 vs. 1302 ± 318 m, p < 0.001) than CON. Importantly, Tsens and HR at exhaustion were not significantly different between conditions, although Tchest (- 2.7 ± 1.8 °C, p < 0.01) and Tback (- 3.9 ± 1.8 °C, p < 0.001) were lower at volitional fatigue during COLD.
The lightweight cooling vest improved total walking time and distance in heat-sensitive pwMS. These physiological improvements were likely due to feeling perceptually cooler in the COLD trial, compared to the corresponding point of fatigue in the CON condition.
热敏感性是多发性硬化症（pwMS）患者的常见禁忌症，身体疲劳是最常报告的影响生活质量的症状之一。体温升高可能会加重疲劳和与热相关的症状。通过冷却设备降低体温可能会减轻疾病症状并改善身体能力和生活质量。本研究使用专门为 pwMS 设计的市售冷却背心评估薄荷醇诱导的假条件下冷却背心对步行耐力的影响。
采用平衡、交叉设计评估冷却背心（CryoVest Comfort，CryoInnov，法国）（COLD）对多发性硬化症患者的地面步行至力竭时间（T，s）和距离（D，m）的影响薄荷醇诱导的假条件（CON）。次要结果是心率（HR，bpm）、热感觉（Tsens）、胸部（Tchest）和背部（Tback）皮肤温度。
10 名多发性硬化症女性（59±9 岁，EDSS 3.0-5.5）参与了这项研究。在 COLD 期间，pwMS 行走的时间明显更长（1896±602 比 1399±404 s，p<0.001）和更远（1879±539 比 1302±318 m，p<0.001）。重要的是，在两种情况下，衰竭时的 Tsens 和 HR 没有显着差异，尽管 COLD 时衰竭时的 Tchest（-2.7±1.8°C，p<0.01）和 Tback（-3.9±1.8°C，p<0.001）更低。
轻便的冷却背心改善了热敏感型 pwMS 的总步行时间和距离。与 CON 条件下相应的疲劳点相比，在 COLD 试验中感觉更凉爽，可能是这些生理改善的原因。
