Effectiveness of short-term heat acclimation on intermittent sprint performance in the heat with moderately trained males.

Garrett, Andrew T.; Birkett, Matt; Gleadall-Siddall, Damien O.; Burke, Rachel; Bray, James; Nation, Fiona

Abstract

Introduction: Effectiveness of short-term heat acclimation (STHA), over 5-days (permissive dehydration), on intermittent heat stress test (HST) with males.

Methods: Ten, moderately-trained, males (mean [SD]; age 25.6 [8.9] y; stature 180.7 [5.6] cm; body mass 83.2 [10.8] kg; and 45.3 [6.5] mL.kg-1.min-1) participated. The HST was 9 x 5min (45-min) of intermittent exercise based on professional soccer players. One week apart, HST1 vs HST (11.0°C; 50%RH), as a reliability trial and HST3 in 31.0°C; 50%RH were completed. Then 90 min dehydration, STHA (no fluid intake), for 5 consecutive days (39.5oC; 60%RH), using controlled-hyperthermia (~rectal temperature [Tre] 38.5oC). The HST4 within one week after STHA. Blood plasma constituents: percent plasma volume (%PV), aldosterone, total protein, albumin, electrolytes, cortisol and HSP70. Data analysis reported as mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) and Cohen’s d effect size.

Results: Post STHA, there was a decrease of -0.20 Tre at 45-min in the HST (95%CI -0.40 to -0.05°C; P=0.03; d =-0.56); mean skin temperature (-0.80; -1.30 to -0.30°C; P=0.007; d =-1.46) and mean body temperature (-0.30; -0.50 to -0.10°C, P=0.01; d =-0.75). Cardiac frequency reduced (-3: -5 to -1 b.min-1; P=0.01; d =-0.20) and %PV increased (7.3: 0.9 to 13.7%; P=0.03; d=0.59). Mean Peak Power (MPO) increased (P<0.05) across sprints 7, 8 and 9. Time to exhaustion increased (167: -15 to 350 s; P=0.06; d =0.63).

Conclusions: Short-term heat acclimation (5-days) with dehydration, using controlled-hyperthermia technique, is effective for physiological adaptations during intermittent exercise in the heat, with moderately-trained males.

Citation

Garrett, A. T., Birkett, M., Gleadall-Siddall, D. O., Burke, R., Bray, J., & Nation, F. (2022). Effectiveness of short-term heat acclimation on intermittent sprint performance in the heat with moderately trained males. Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments, 17(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.7771/2327-2937.1139

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 29, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Apr 4, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 11, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Human Performance in Extreme Environments
• Print ISSN: 1529-5168
• Publisher: Purdue University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 4
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2327-2937.1139
• Keywords: Intermittent; Males; Dehydration; Fluid-regulation; Plasma volume
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3887721