Effects of Head and Neck Cooling and Heating on Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis and Healthy Men

Body weight (kg),Body fat (%),Body free fat mass (kg),Body mass index (kg/m2),Change in muscle temperature (°C),Change in plasma cortisol (nmol/L) concentrations,Change in plasma dopamine (nmol/L) concentrations,Change in plasma prolactin (ng/mL) concentrations,Change in subjective rating of perceived exertion,Change in muscle activity (mV),Change in muscle activity (Hz),Change in voluntary torque (Nm),Change in involuntary torque (Nm),Change in muscle contraction and relaxation (ms),Change in central activation ratio (percent),Change in constant error,Change in absolute error

Local head and neck cooling strategies can help reduce multiple sclerosis-related fatigue,
 while heating can exacerbate heat-related fatigue. However, no study has detailed the
 peripheral and central responses to head and neck cooling (at 18°C) and heating (at 43 ± 1°C
 next to the scalp and neck skin) during fatiguing isometric exercise in non-challenging
 ambient temperature in multiple sclerosis and healthy male subjects. In addition, there is a
 lack of data describing the effects of head and neck cooling/heating and strenuous exercise
 on blood markers, muscle temperature, motor accuracy, and rate of perceived exertion. The
 investigators hypothesized that: (i) men with multiple sclerosis would be more affected by
 central and peripheral fatigue compared to healthy subjects; (ii) local cooling will result
 in greater central fatigue but will be associated with greater peripheral fatigue, whereas
 heating will result in greater central and peripheral fatigue in multiple sclerosis men; (iv)
 local cooling and heating will have a greater effect on the release of stress hormones, rate
 of perceived exertion and motor accuracy compared to the control condition in both multiple
 sclerosis and healthy groups.