Title
Impact of different climatic conditions on peak core temperature of elite athletes during exercise in the heat: a Thermo Tokyo simulation study
Author
Teunissen, L.P.J.
Jansen, K.M.B.
Janssen, E.
Kingma, B.R.M.
de Korte, J.Q.
Eijsvogels, T.M.H.
Publication year
2022
Abstract
Objectives To evaluate how separate and combined climatic parameters affect peak core temperature during exercise in the heat using computer simulations fed with individual data. Methods The impact of eight environmental conditions on rectal temperature (Tre) was determined for exercise under heat stress using the Fiala-thermal-Physiology-and-Comfort simulation model. Variations in ambient temperature (Ta±6°C), relative humidity (RH±15%) and solar radiation (SR+921 W/m2) were assessed in isolation and combination (worst-case/best-case scenarios) and compared with baseline (Ta32°C, RH 75%, SR 0 W/m2). The simulation model was fed with personal, anthropometric and individual exercise characteristics. Results 54 athletes exercised for 46±10 min at baseline conditions and achieved a peak core temperature of 38.9±0.5°C. Simulations at a higher Ta (38°C) and SR (921 W/m2) resulted in a higher peak Tre compared with baseline (+0.6±0.3°C and +0.5±0.2°C, respectively), whereas a higher RH (90%) hardly affected peak Tre (+0.1±0.1°C). A lower Ta (26°C) and RH (60%) reduced peak Tre by −0.4±0.2°C and a minor −0.1±0.1°C, respectively. The worst-case simulation yielded a 1.5±0.4°C higher Tre than baseline and 2.0±0.7°C higher than the best-case condition. Conclusion Combined unfavourable climatic conditions produce a greater increase in peak core temperature than the sum of its parts in elite athletes exercising in the heat.
Subject
Athlete
Heat stress
Olympics
Thermoregulation
climate
Controlled study
Core temperature
Elite athlete
Exercise
Heat stress
Human
Japan
Simulation
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:8bd74bc9-c32a-4935-99ef-14a0a5ff2749
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2022-001313
TNO identifier
973515
ISSN
2055-7647
Source
BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 8 (8)
Document type
article