The impact of heat acclimation on physiological response to exercise and performance at hot and temperate conditions

Heat acclimation training programmes induces physiological adaptations to improve thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, sudomotor and metabolic responses during exercise in hot conditions. Such adaptations include increased sweat rate, improved maximal oxygen uptake, lowered resting and exercising core temperatures and heart rate in the heat. It is argued that these adaptations can also promote an ergogenic effect. The aim of this study is to analyse the effectiveness of a 3-week intermittent exercise heat acclimation intervention on performance and physiological response during exercise at both temperate and hot environmental conditions. 8 physically active males (age: 24 ± 4 years, height: 183 ± 6cm, body mass: 91 ± 17kg, body fat %: 17.6 ± 9.0%) were recruited. A 15-minute cycling time trial in hot (35°C, 30% RH) and temperate (~13°C, ~30% RH) as well as the Yo-Yo IRL1 in temperate conditions were performed. Following heat acclimation, significant improvements were observed within time trial performance (heat; +1.02km, P < 0.001, temperate; +0.775km, P = 0.006), local sweat rate (heat; +1.083mgs/cm²min^-1, P = 0.002) and estimated V ̇O2 max (temperate; +1.96ml.kg-1min-1, P = 0.035). An intermittent 3-week heat acclimation protocol proved beneficial to performance in hot and temperate conditions. ~45 minutes of heat exposure comprising of repeated sprints and steady-paced cycling demonstrates that traditional high volume training is not essential to drive thermophysiological adaptations.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Masters by Research

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Masters Thesis

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Abertay University

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Reid, Ben

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Babraj, John
• Grant, Marie Clare

• Heat
• Acclimation
• Acclimatisation
• Exercise
• Temperature
• Temperate
• Physiology
• Adaptation

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:rke.abertay.ac.uk:studenttheses/77d36108-9460-4f40-aaf3-2b0b90b090bb

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:rke.abertay.ac.uk:studenttheses/77d36108-9460-4f40-aaf3-2b0b90b090bb