Muscles held under tension undergo a chemical reaction that generates heat within the muscle, and subsequently that heat contributes to muscle fatigue. Research in the field of physiology and sports medicine has demonstrated that actively cooling an athlete's core body temperature can rapidly rejuvenate a fatigued muscle thereby allowing the athlete to extend the muscle's potential. Mammalians have several areas of glabrous tissue wherein a dense network of veins near the surface of the skin act as heat exchangers for cooling and regulating their core temperature. The process for effective cooling via glabrous tissue is optimized within a narrow range of temperatures. Presented herein is a handheld cooling device which is optimized for the efficient transfer of heat away from the fatigued muscles via direct contact with glabrous tissue.