The Effect of Medium-Term Sauna-Based Heat Acclimation (MPHA) on Thermophysiological and Plasma Volume Responses to Exercise Performed under Temperate Conditions in Elite Cross-Country Skiers

Ilona Pokora, Ewa Sadowska-Krępa, Łukasz Wolowski, Piotr Wyderka, Anna Michnik and Zofia Drzazga
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Ilona Pokora: Department of Physiological-Medical Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikołowska 72a, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Ewa Sadowska-Krępa: Department of Physiological-Medical Sciences, Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikołowska 72a, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Łukasz Wolowski: Doctoral Studies, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikołowska 72a, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Piotr Wyderka: Doctoral Studies, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Mikołowska 72a, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Anna Michnik: The Silesian Centre for Education and Interdisciplinary Research, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1A, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland
Zofia Drzazga: The Silesian Centre for Education and Interdisciplinary Research, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Silesia in Katowice, 75 Pułku Piechoty 1A, 41-500 Chorzow, Poland

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-21

Abstract: The influence of a series of ten sauna baths (MPHA) on thermophysiological and selected hematological responses in 14 elite cross-country skiers to a submaximal endurance exercise test performed under thermoneutral environmental conditions was studied. Thermal and physiological variables were measured before and after the exercise test, whereas selected hematological indices were studied before, immediately after, and during recovery after a run, before (T1) and after sauna baths (T2). MPHA did not influence the baseline internal, body, and skin temperatures. There was a decrease in the resting heart rate (HR: p = 0.001) and physiological strain (PSI: p = 0.052) after MPHA and a significant effect of MPHA on systolic blood pressure ( p = 0.03), hematological indices, and an exercise effect but no combined effect of treatments and exercise on the tested variables. A positive correlation was reported between PSI and total protein (%?TP) in T2 and a negative between plasma volume (%?PV) and mean red cellular volume (%?MCV) in T1 and T2 in response to exercise and a positive one during recovery. This may suggest that MPHA has a weak influence on body temperatures but causes a moderate decrease in PSI and modifications of plasma volume restoration in response to exercise under temperate conditions in elite athletes.

Keywords: sauna baths; exercise; physiological strain; body temperature; plasma volume; athletes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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