Figures & data
Figure 1. Time to exhaustion (mean ± SD; min) during fixed-intensity cycling at 70% maximal incremental test power across three topical cream applications of menthol and capsaicin (Menthol + Cap), placebo and menthol (n = 10).
Figure 2. Arm to finger temperature differences (A), mean skin (Msk) temperature (B) and Core temperature (C) (mean ± SD) across rest, 3-min, 6-min & end-point of time to exhaustion cycling at 70% maximal incremental test power across three topical cream applications of menthol and capsaicin (Menthol + Cap), placebo and menthol (n = 10).
Figure 3. Thermal sensation (A), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and heart rate (C) (mean ± SD) rest, 3-min, 6-min & end-point of time to exhaustion cycling at 70% maximal incremental test power across three topical cream applications of menthol and capsaicin (Menthol + Cap), placebo and menthol (n = 10). * = condition effect and pairwise difference between menthol + capsaicin vs. menthol for thermal sensation (p < 0.05). In the RPE condition, * = differences between menthol and all other conditions.
Table 1. Post-exercise perceptions of pain and attentional focus (median and interquartile range and total range) across three topical cream applications of menthol and capsaicin, placebo and menthol (n = 10).