Thermal Behavior Augments Heat Loss Following Low Intensity Exercise

Nicole T. Vargas, Christopher L. Chapman, Blair D. Johnson, Rob Gathercole, Matthew N. Cramer and Zachary J. Schlader
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Nicole T. Vargas: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
Christopher L. Chapman: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
Blair D. Johnson: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA
Rob Gathercole: Lululemon Athletica Inc., Vancouver, BC V6J 1C7, Canada
Matthew N. Cramer: Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75231, USA
Zachary J. Schlader: Center for Research and Education in Special Environments, Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 17, issue 1, 1-20

Abstract: We tested the hypothesis that thermal behavior alleviates thermal discomfort and accelerates core temperature recovery following low intensity exercise. Methods: In a 27 ± 0 °C, 48 ± 6% relative humidity environment, 12 healthy subjects (six females) completed 60 min of exercise followed by 90 min of seated recovery on two occasions. Subjects wore a suit top perfusing 34 ± 0 °C water during exercise. In the control trial, this water continually perfused throughout recovery. In the behavior trial, the upper body was maintained thermally comfortable by pressing a button to receive cool water (3 ± 2 °C) perfusing through the top for 2 min per button press. Results: Physiological variables (core temperature, p ≥ 0.18; mean skin temperature, p = 0.99; skin wettedness, p ≥ 0.09; forearm skin blood flow, p = 0.29 and local axilla sweat rate, p = 0.99) did not differ between trials during exercise. Following exercise, mean skin temperature decreased in the behavior trial in the first 10 min (by −0.5 ± 0.7 °C, p < 0.01) and upper body skin temperature was reduced until 70 min into recovery (by 1.8 ± 1.4 °C, p < 0.05). Core temperature recovered to pre-exercise levels 17 ± 31 min faster ( p = 0.02) in the behavior trial. There were no differences in skin blood flow or local sweat rate between conditions during recovery ( p ≥ 0.05). Whole-body thermal discomfort was reduced (by −0.4 ± 0.5 a.u.) in the behavior trial compared to the control trial within the first 20 min of recovery ( p ≤ 0.02). Thermal behavior via upper body cooling resulted in augmented cumulative heat loss within the first 30 min of recovery (Behavior: 288 ± 92 kJ; Control: 160 ± 44 kJ, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Engaging in thermal behavior that results in large reductions in mean skin temperature following exercise accelerates the recovery of core temperature and alleviates thermal discomfort by promoting heat loss.

Keywords: thermoregulatory behavior; thermoregulation; exercise recovery; voluntary cooling (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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