In:
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health), Vol. 55, No. 10 ( 2023-10), p. 1835-1844
Abstract:
This study aimed to compare the impact of hot-humid environmental conditions on performance outcomes, thermoregulatory responses, and thermal perception during exercise between elite para- and able-bodied (AB) athletes. Methods Twenty elite para-athletes (para-cycling and wheelchair tennis) and 20 elite AB athletes (road cycling, mountain biking, beach volleyball) performed an incremental exercise test in a temperate environment (mean ± SD, 15.2°C ± 1.2°C; relative humidity, 54% ± 7%) and a hot-humid environment (31.9°C ± 1.6°C, 72% ± 5%). Exercise tests started with a 20-min warm-up at 70% of maximal heart rate, after which power output increased by 5% every 3 min until volitional exhaustion. Results Time to exhaustion was shorter in hot-humid versus temperate conditions, with equal performance loss for para- and AB athletes (median (interquartile range), 26% (20%–31%) vs 27% (19%–32%); P = 0.80). AB athletes demonstrated larger exercise-induced increases in gastrointestinal temperature (T gi ) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions (2.2 ± 0.7 vs 1.7 ± 0.5, P 〈 0.001), whereas T gi responses in para-athletes were similar between conditions (1.3 ± 0.6 vs 1.3 ± 0.4, P = 0.74). Para- and AB athletes showed similar elevations in peak skin temperature ( P = 0.94), heart rate ( P = 0.67), and thermal sensation score ( P = 0.64) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions. Conclusions Elite para-athletes and AB athletes demonstrated similar performance decrements during exercise in hot-humid versus temperate conditions, whereas T gi elevations were markedly lower in para-athletes. We observed large interindividual variation within both groups, suggesting that in both para- and AB athletes, personalized heat mitigation plans should be developed based on individual thermal testing.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1530-0315
,
0195-9131
DOI:
10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222
Language:
English
Publisher:
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2031167-9
SSG:
31
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