Effectiveness of short-term heat acclimation for highly trained athletes

Garrett, Andrew T.; Creasy, Rob; Rehrer, Nancy J.; Patterson, Mark J.; Cotter, James D.

Abstract

Effectiveness of short-term acclimation has generally been undertaken using untrained and moderatelytrained participants. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of short-term (5-day) heat acclimation on highly trained athletes. Eight males (mean ± SD age 21.8 ± 2.1 years, mass 75.2 ± 4.6 kg, _V O2peak 4.9 ± 0.2 L min-1 and power output 400 ± 27 W) were heat acclimated under controlled hyperthermia (rectal temperature 38.5C), for 90-min on five consecutive days (Ta = 39.5C, 60% relative humidity). Acclimation was undertaken with dehydration (no fluid-intake) during daily bouts. Participants completed a rowing-specific, heat stress test (HST) 1 day before and after acclimation (Ta = 35C, 60% relative humidity). HST consisted 10-min rowing at 30% peak power output (PPO), 10 min at 60% PPO and 5-min rest before a 2-km performance test, without feedback cues. Participants received 250 mL fluid (4% carbohydrate; osmolality 240-270 mmol kg-1) before the HST. Body mass loss during acclimation bouts was 1.6 ± 0.3 kg (2.1%) on day 1 and 2.3 ± 0.4 kg (3.0%) on day 5. In contrast, resting plasma volume increased by 4.5 ± 4.5% from day 1 to 5 (estimated from [Hb] & Hct). Plasma aldosterone increased at rest (52.6 pg mL-1; p = 0.03) and end-exercise (162.4 pg mL-1; p = 0.00) from day 1 to 5 acclimation. During the HST Tre and fc were lowered 0.3C (p = 0.00) and 14 b min-1 (p = 0.00) after 20-min exercise. The 2-km performance time (6.52.7 min) improved by 4 s (p = 0.00). Meaningful physiological and performance improvements occurred for highly trained athletes using a short-term (5-day) heat acclimation under hyperthermia control, with dehydration.

Citation

Garrett, A. T., Creasy, R., Rehrer, N. J., Patterson, M. J., & Cotter, J. D. (2012). Effectiveness of short-term heat acclimation for highly trained athletes. European journal of applied physiology, 112(5), 1827-1837. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2153-3

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 26, 2011
• Online Publication Date: Sep 14, 2011
• Publication Date: 2012-05
• Journal: European Journal of Applied Physiology
• Print ISSN: 1439-6319
• Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 112
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 1827-1837
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-011-2153-3
• Keywords: Elite; Performance; Dehydration; Fluid regulation; Plasma volume.
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/418011