Can cold hands improve pull-ups?

Yes, using cold hands can indeed improve pull-up performance. Andrew Huberman discussed a study in which participants performed pull-ups while using a device that cooled their palms. This cooling method helped to maintain optimal muscle function by managing the temperature of a key enzyme, pyruvate kinase, which is sensitive to heat. When the hands are cooled, it prevents the muscle temperature from rising too much, thus allowing the muscles to work more efficiently and endure longer. As a result, participants were able to perform a significantly higher number of pull-ups compared to when their hands were not cooled 1.