Heat Acclimation Following Heat Acclimatization Elicits Additional Physiological Improvements in Male Endurance Athletes

Courteney L. Benjamin, Yasuki Sekiguchi, Jeb F. Struder, Michael R. Szymanski, Ciara N. Manning, Andrew J. Grundstein, Elaine C. Lee, Robert A. Huggins, Lawrence E. Armstrong and Douglas J. Casa
Additional contact information
Courteney L. Benjamin: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Yasuki Sekiguchi: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Jeb F. Struder: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Michael R. Szymanski: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Ciara N. Manning: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Andrew J. Grundstein: Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Elaine C. Lee: Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Robert A. Huggins: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Lawrence E. Armstrong: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
Douglas J. Casa: Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of heat acclimatization (HAz) followed by heat acclimation (HA) on physiological adaptations. 25 male endurance athletes (age 36 ± 12 y, height 178.8 ± 6.39 cm, body mass 73.03 ± 8.97 kg, and VO 2peak 57.5 ± 7.0 mL·kg ?1 ·min ?1 ) completed HAz and HA. HAz was 3 months of self-directed summer training. In the laboratory, a 5-day HA prescribed exercise to target a hyperthermic zone (HZHA) of T rec between 38.50 and 39.75 °C for 60 min. Exercise trials were 60 min of running (59% ± 2% VO 2peak ) in an environmental chamber (wet bulb globe temperature 29.53 ± 0.63 °C) and administered at: baseline, post-HAz, and post-HAz+HA. Measured variables included internal body temperature (T rec ), heart rate (HR), and sweat rate (SR). Repeated measure ANOVAs and post hoc comparisons were used to assess statistically significant ( p < 0.05) differences. T rec was lower post-HAz+HA (38.03 ± 0.39 °C) than post-HAz (38.25 ± 0.42 °C, p = 0.009) and baseline (38.29 ± 0.37 °C, p = 0.005). There were no differences between baseline and post-HAz ( p = 0.479) in T rec . HR was lower post-HAz (143 ± 12 bpm, p = 0.002) and post-HAz+HA (134 ± 11 bpm, p < 0.001) than baseline (138 ± 14 bpm). HR was lower post-HAz+HA than post-HAz ( p = 0.013). SR was higher post-HAz+HA (1.93 ± 0.47 L·h ?1 ) than post-HAz (1.76 ± 0.43 L·h ?1 , p = 0.027). Combination HAz and HA increased physiological outcomes above HAz. This method can be used to improve performance and safety in addition to HAz alone.

Keywords: thermoregulation; heat mitigation; aerobic; heat tolerance; heat illness; training strategy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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