University of Colorado study offers big boost to Cocona
17/06/2016
A team of four physiologists at the University of Colorado at Boulder carried out the study, giving it the title ‘Beneficial Effects of Cooling during Constant Power Non-steady State Cycling’. One of the four authors, Eric Homestead, presented the results at the American College of Sports Medicine’s 63rd annual meeting in Boston in mid-June.
The study used three different scenarios to determine effects of cooling on physiological indicators. The tests were with a typical wicking T-shirt, an otherwise identical 37.5 T-shirt, and an ice vest and sleeves. The two shirts were blinded both to the investigators and the participants. Each case delivered a different level of cooling to athletes as they maintained a steady level of exercise intensity on a stationary bicycle. The athletes were tested for a wide range of physiological parameters before, during and after the requested activity. Core temperature, skin temperature, sweat rate, oxygen intake, carbon dioxide output, and blood levels were closely monitored and measured.
Results indicate that wearing clothing enhanced with Cocona’s technology can help athletes improve performance at their lactate threshold, the point at which lactate or lactic acid begins to build up in the blood. They also show that the clothing can help lower an athlete’s core temperature during exercise and increase efficiency, meaning sports people will consume less energy to carry out the same amount of work.
“Now that the study is public we’re excited to be able to talk about the results,” said Dr Gregory Haggquist, founder and chief technology officer of Cocona and inventor of its patented 37.5 technology. He said data from the study suggests the technology can improve an athlete’s performance by 26%, and added: “To get that kind of increase in efficiency just by changing your shirt fabric is unprecedented.”
Cocona relaunched as 37.5 in 2013. The original active carbon particles were derived from coconut shells. The technology has since been expanded to use additional natural materials.
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