Neck cooling, with or without menthol mouth rinse, improves repeated-shuttle sprint performance and perceived thermal strain in hijab-wearing female futsal players in hot-dry indoor conditions

Purpose: Female athletes wearing a sports hijab may experience greater heat strain during high-intensity intermittent exercise. This study examined the effects of menthol mouth rinse (MEN), neck cooling (NEC), and their combination (NEC + MEN) on repeated-shuttle sprint performance, physiological responses, and perceptual outcomes in hijab-wearing female futsal players exercising in hot–dry indoor conditions. Methods: Twenty-five female players completed four randomized crossover trials conducted in a hot-dry environment (34 ± 1 °C, 20–30% RH; WBGT ≈ 31 °C). Each trial involved a 10 × 30-m out-and-back repeated-sprint test every 30 s. Outcomes were mean/best sprint time, fatigue index, whole-body thermal sensation/comfort, RPE, and post-test HR, sweat loss, and pre-trial rectal temperature. Results: Mean sprint time was faster in NEC and MEN + NEC than PLA (p < 0.001 for both) and modestly faster in MEN than PLA (p = 0.045). Best sprint time was faster in NEC and MEN + NEC than PLA (p < 0.001), whereas MEN did not differ from PLA (p = 1.000). Fatigue index was lower in MEN, NEC, and MEN + NEC than PLA (all p ≤ 0.002). Post-RSA heart rate and rectal temperature did not differ between conditions (p ≥ 0.553). Sweat loss was lower in MEN + NEC and NEC than PLA (p ≤ 0.049). Thermal sensation/comfort and RPE increased over time (p < 0.001) but were lower in NEC and MEN + NEC than PLA (condition effects, p < 0.01). Conclusions: Neck cooling enhances repeated-shuttle sprint performance and reduces perceived thermal strain in hijab-wearing female futsal players in hot-dry indoor heat. Menthol provides smaller performance benefits, and MEN + NEC is broadly comparable to NEC alone for primary performance outcomes. Trial registration: IRCT87477. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026.