Argentina Players Use Cooling Vests in Training; Doctor Explains Benefits and Risks

During training sessions for the Argentine national football team, players have been observed utilizing specialized cooling vests and boots, a practice that has drawn attention. Sports doctor Jorge Franchela provided insight into the function of these cooling vests, explaining their role in managing body temperature.

“

In this case, there are gels that we know daily, which have a container with a gel inside that freezes. When you place it on our skin, the heat from our body goes towards the gel.

Franchela detailed how the vests are equipped with freezable gels. "In this case, there are gels that we know daily, which have a container with a gel inside that freezes. When you place it on our skin, the heat from our body goes towards the gel," he explained. This mechanism facilitates thermoregulation by transferring the body's heat to the cooler gel packs.

“

When the player puts on this vest with small gels, the heat from their body passes into the colder environment.

These cooling vests act like a "small refrigerator around the body," according to Franchela, helping to accelerate the dissipation of metabolic heat. Maintaining a stable internal body temperature, typically around 36-37 degrees Celsius, is crucial for health, regardless of external climate conditions. The cooling vests assist the body in this autoregulation process, potentially leading to faster recovery between matches.

“

These vests act like a 'small refrigerator around the body' to accelerate the dissipation of metabolic heat.

However, Franchela cautioned that the use of such cooling therapies requires careful medical supervision. He likened the practice to cold showers used in other sports, warning that "a sudden change from heat to cold can cause a change in blood pressure." He emphasized that players using these devices are closely monitored and regulated. Franchela also mentioned a "cold pressure test" used in medicine to assess cardiovascular response to cold, underscoring the need for professional oversight rather than intuitive use of these cooling technologies.

“

A sudden change from heat to cold can cause a change in blood pressure. Therefore, these players are controlled, regulated, and supervised.