England players are using Therabody’s heat-fighting palm cooler

Hot weather has become a major factor at this year’s World Cup, especially for teams such as England and Norway that are more used to cooler conditions. With back-to-back matches in hot and humid environments, keeping players' core temperature under control has become a performance issue as much as a comfort one.

That is where Therabody says its new CryoTherm Palm can help. The device, which looks a bit like a dumbbell, is being used by Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. Players place their hands on its contact points, and the company says its cryothermal technology cools blood flowing through the palms, helping lower overall body temperature.

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According to Tim Roberts, Therabody’s Chief Science Officer, the palms are unusually effective for heat transfer.

“Your palms are natural radiators — hairless skin packed with special vessels that bring a lot of blood right to the surface. It’s why gloves keep your whole body warm in winter.” “CryoTherm Palm cools that surface, pulls heat out of the blood passing through, and that cooled blood circulates back to lower your core temperature faster than cooling almost anywhere else.”

Roberts also said the device may affect perceived exertion by reducing the thermal signals the brain uses to judge effort.

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He pointed to a study at IMG Academy in Florida, where footballers used the device between sprints. Roberts said those players:

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• felt 60% cooler
• held 2.45% higher top speed
• preserved sprint velocity 4.7% better across repeated efforts

Roberts added that the device does not replace basic precautions such as hydration or backing off in dangerous heat. TechRadar notes that an earlier Therabody press release described IMG Academy as a Therabody partner.

The CryoTherm Palm is available now for $399.99 / £349 / around AU$600.