Are Respiratory Responses to Cold Air Exercise Different in Females Compared to Males? Implications for Exercise in Cold Air Environments

Michael D. Kennedy, Elisabeth Lenz, Martin Niedermeier and Martin Faulhaber
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Michael D. Kennedy: Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H9, Canada
Elisabeth Lenz: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Martin Niedermeier: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Martin Faulhaber: Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Research has shown that cold air exercise causes significant respiratory dysfunction, especially in female athletes. However, how female and male athletes respond to cold air exercise is not known. Thus, we aimed to compare acute respiratory responses (function, recovery and symptoms) in males and females after high-intensity cold air exercise. Eighteen (nine female) athletes completed two environmental chamber running trials at 0 °C and −20 °C (humidity 34 ± 5%) on different days in a randomized starting order. Spirometry was performed pre, 3, 6, 10, 15 and 20 min post. Respiratory symptoms were measured posttrial and heart rate and rating of perceived exertion were assessed during each trial. No significant differences in delta change (pre to post) were found at either temperature between sexes for FEV 1 , FVC, FEF50% and FEF25–75%. At −20 °C, FEV 1 decreased similarly in both sexes (males: 7.5%, females: 6.3%) but not at 0 °C, p = 0.003. Postexertion respiratory function recovery and reported symptoms were not different between sexes at either temperature. These results indicate no sex-based differences in acute respiratory responses (function, recovery and symptoms) to cold air exercise. However, intense exercise at −20 °C is challenging to the respiratory system in both sexes and may lead to altered respiratory responses compared to mild winter conditions like 0 °C.

Keywords: exercise induced bronchoconstriction; winter sport athletes; wheeze; post exertion cough; airway hyperresponsiveness; spirometry; athlete health; airway provocation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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