Year: 2018
Type: dissertation
Study design: Clinical Trial
Abstract: This study compared the effects of heat acclimation (HA) on female endurance performance following short-term (4-5 days; STHA) plus long-term (9-10 days; LTHA) heat acclimation, as well as examined HA’s ergogenic potential in females. Seven female recreational endurance athletes completed 10-days isothermic HA (40°C, 30%RH), and a 15-minute selfpaced time trial (TT) in hot (HTT; 35°C, 30%RH) and cool conditions (CTT; 15°C, 30%RH), before (1) and after STHA (2) plus LTHA (3). Following LTHA, distance cycled (hot: +260±150 m (3.3%), P=0.017; cool: +210±150 m, (2.4%), P=0.038) and mean power output (hot: +10.4±7.4 W (5.5%) P=0.015; cool: +10.7±7.7 W (6.8%) P= 0.040) were increased. \nArea under the curve (AUC) differences were observed in power output across CTT1 vs. CTT3 (P=0.034) and HTT1 vs. HTT3 (P=0.016). Body mass loss (+2.6±0.5% to 3.2±0.5%; P=0.034), sweat rate relative to body surface area (+613±105 g/h/m2 to 772±114 g/h/m2; P=0.018) and active sweat glands/sq. inch (395±135 to 494±157; P=0.016) increased following LTHA. Tre was lower (AUC; P=0.036) during CTT3 vs. CTT1. Other thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, and blood lactate measures were not different between TTs (P>0.05). No significant performance or physiological improvements were observed following STHA (P>0.05). The lack of physiological or performance effect following STHA indicates that females require LTHA to augment performance in the heat. Meaningful performance improvements in cool conditions further support HA’s ergogenic potential.
Author: Nathalie V. Kirby
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology (medical)
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2969832464