Head-and-neck cooling can enhance exercise tolerance for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) according to study results published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders. The study included 10 adults with relapsing-remitting MS who performed semi-recumbent cycling exercises while wearing commercially available cooling caps and neck wraps in a temperate environment (23°C, 50% relative humidity). Participants were tested under cooling and neutral conditions on separate days.

The cooling intervention notably extended exercise duration, with participants exercising for an average of 28.4 minutes under cooling conditions compared to 20.8 minutes without. This improvement was accompanied by a significant reduction in core body temperature (~1°C), underscoring the cooling strategy's effectiveness in mitigating thermal strain. Participants who exercised under cooling conditions also performed better on 2-minute walk tests after exercising (176.5 m compared to 147.7 m). Fatigue levels remained unchanged between the 2 conditions.

These findings suggest that cooling caps and neck wraps could be a practical and cost-effective tool for MS patients to enhance their exercise tolerance, which could improve their ability to engage in physical activities and their overall health and well-being.

Source: Apostolou G, Flouris AD, Kouidi E, et al. Head and neck cooling enhance exercise tolerance in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2024:105833. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2024.105833