Effect of Different Reduced Training Frequencies after 12 Weeks of Concurrent Resistance and Aerobic Training on Muscle Strength and Morphology

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of two long-term reduced concurrent training modalities, in which participants performed one training session every either 7 or 14 days, after 12 weeks of systematic concurrent resistance and aerobic training, on lower extremities' muscle strength, power, and morphology in young females. After the 12-week training period, participants were assigned into three groups and performed either one training session every 7 days (G7) or once every 14 days (G14), or detraining (GD), for 12 weeks, followed by 12 additional weeks of detraining. The following were measured before, after the systematic training period, after the end of the reduced training frequency period, and after the end of complete detraining: body composition, leg press 1-RM, countermovement jump, quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA), vastus lateralis muscle architecture, and maximum aerobic power. Performance and muscle mass increased after the initial 12-week training period. Thereafter, leg press 1-RM, quadriceps CSA, and aerobic power remained unchanged in the G7 group, but decreased in G14 (-4.4 ± 3.5%; -5.9 ± 1.8%; -9.0 ± 7.8%, respectively, p < 0.05), maintaining 95.6 ± 3.5%, 94.1 ± 1.8%, and 91.0 ± 7.8% of the initial training adaptations, respectively. In conclusion, performing one training session every 2 weeks for 3 months may preserve 90 to 95% of the muscle mass/strength and aerobic power adaptations achieved with systematic concurrent training.

The roles of ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X gene variants in heat acclimation

Roles of genes in heat acclimation (HA, repeated exercise-heat exposures) had not been explored. ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X genetic polymorphisms are closely associated with outstanding exercise performances. This study investigated whether the two polymorphisms influenced the response to HA. Fifty young Han nationality male subjects were selected and conducted HA for 2 weeks. Exercise indicators (5-km run, push-up and 100-m run) were tested and rest aural thermometry (RTau) was measured before and after HA. ACE gene was grouped by I homozygote and D carrier, and ACTN3 gene was grouped by R homozygote and X carrier. Results showed that there were no differences between groups in age, body mass index, exercise indicators and RTau before HA. After HA, RTau of ACE I homozygote was lower than that of D carrier [F (1, 48) = 9.12, p = 0.004, η = 0.40]. Compared with RTau before HA, that of I homozygote decreased after HA (Δ = -0.26 °C, 95 % CI -0.34-0.18, p < 0.001), while that of D carrier did not change. There was a ACE gene × HA interaction in RTau [F (1, 48) = 14.26, p < 0.001, η = 0.48]. No effect of ACTN3 gene on RTau was observed. For exercise indicators, there were no differences between groups after HA, and no gene × HA interactions were observed. There may be a strong interaction of ACE gene and HA in the change of rest core temperature. I homozygote may have an advantage on improving heat tolerance.

Thermal and cardiovascular heat adaptations in active adolescents following summer

This study aimed to investigate seasonal heat acclimatization in active adolescents following summer. Fifteen (5 females) active adolescents (14.6 ± 1.0 y) completed a 45-min heat response test (HRT) walking at 60% V ˙ O2peak in 40°C and 30% relative humidity before and after summer (i.e. November 2022 and March 2023). During the HRT, gastro-intestinal temperature (Tgi), skin temperature (Tsk), heart rate, local sweat rate (LSR) and whole-body sweat loss (WBSL) were recorded. Carbon monoxide rebreathing and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans determined resting hematological measures and body composition. Participants completed physical activity (PA) diaries and wore an accelerometer for two one-week periods (pre- and post-summer). Daytime wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was calculated for each summer day. Data are presented as posterior mean and 90% credible intervals. Participants reported 7 ± 4 h·wk-1 of outdoor PA, and daytime WBGT was 21.2 ± 4.6°C. Following summer, resting Tgi and heart rate were reduced by 0.2°C [-0.3, -0.1; probability of direction = 99%] and 7 beats·min-1 [-10, -3; 100%], respectively. During the HRT, there was an earlier onset of sweating (-0.2°C [-0.3, -0.0; 98%]), an attenuated rise of Tgi (0.2°C [-0.5, 0.0; 92%]) and mean Tsk changed by -0.2°C [-0.5, 0.1; 86%]. There was minimal evidence for heat adaptations in LSR or WBSL, hematological parameters or perceptual measures. This is the first study to demonstrate seasonal heat adaptations in active adolescents. Reductions in resting Tgi and exercising Tsk and a lower Tgi at the onset of sweating were associated with a smaller rise in Tgi during the HRT following summer.

Do E2 and P4 contribute to the explained variance in core temperature response for trained women during exertional heat stress when metabolic rates are very high?

Purpose

Women remain underrepresented in the exercise thermoregulation literature despite their participation in leisure-time and occupational physical activity in heat-stressful environments continuing to increase. Here, we determined the relative contribution of the primary ovarian hormones (estrogen [E₂] and progesterone [P₄]) alongside other morphological (e.g., body mass), physiological (e.g., sweat rates), functional (e.g., aerobic fitness) and environmental (e.g., vapor pressure) factors in explaining the individual variation in core temperature responses for trained women working at very high metabolic rates, specifically peak core temperature (T_peak) and work output (mean power output).

Methods

Thirty-six trained women (32 ± 9 year, 53 ± 9 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹), distinguished by intra-participant (early follicular and mid-luteal phases) or inter-participant (ovulatory vs. anovulatory vs. oral contraceptive pill user) differences in their endogenous E₂ and P₄ concentrations, completed a self-paced 30-min cycling work trial in warm–dry (2.2 ± 0.2 kPa, 34.1 ± 0.2 °C, 41.4 ± 3.4% RH) and/or warm–humid (3.4 ± 0.1 kPa, 30.2 ± 1.2 °C, 79.8 ± 3.7% RH) conditions that yielded 115 separate trials. Stepwise linear regression was used to explain the variance of the dependent variables.

Results

Models were able to account for 60% of the variance in T_peak (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\overline{R }$$\end{document}R¯²: 41% core temperature at the start of work trial, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\overline{R }$$\end{document}R¯²: 15% power output, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\overline{R }$$\end{document}R¯²: 4% [E₂]) and 44% of the variance in mean power output (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\overline{R }$$\end{document}R¯²: 35% peak aerobic power, \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\overline{R }$$\end{document}R¯²: 9% perceived exertion).

Conclusion

E₂ contributes a small amount toward the core temperature response in trained women, whereby starting core temperature and peak aerobic power explain the greatest variance in T_peak and work output, respectively.

Exercise under heat stress: thermoregulation, hydration, performance implications, and mitigation strategies

A rise in body core temperature and loss of body water via sweating are natural consequences of prolonged exercise in the heat. This review provides a comprehensive and integrative overview of how the human body responds to exercise under heat stress and the countermeasures that can be adopted to enhance aerobic performance under such environmental conditions. The fundamental concepts and physiological processes associated with thermoregulation and fluid balance are initially described, followed by a summary of methods to determine thermal strain and hydration status. An outline is provided on how exercise-heat stress disrupts these homeostatic processes, leading to hyperthermia, hypohydration, sodium disturbances, and in some cases exertional heat illness. The impact of heat stress on human performance is also examined, including the underlying physiological mechanisms that mediate the impairment of exercise performance. Similarly, the influence of hydration status on performance in the heat and how systemic and peripheral hemodynamic adjustments contribute to fatigue development is elucidated. This review also discusses strategies to mitigate the effects of hyperthermia and hypohydration on exercise performance in the heat by examining the benefits of heat acclimation, cooling strategies, and hyperhydration. Finally, contemporary controversies are summarized and future research directions are provided.

Intermittent post-exercise sauna bathing improves markers of exercise capacity in hot and temperate conditions in trained middle-distance runners

PURPOSE

This study investigated whether intermittent post-exercise sauna bathing across three-weeks endurance training improves exercise heat tolerance and exercise performance markers in temperate conditions, compared to endurance training alone. The subsidiary aim was to determine whether exercise-heat tolerance would further improve following 7-Weeks post-exercise sauna bathing.

METHODS

Twenty middle-distance runners (13 female; mean ± SD, age 20 ± 2 years, [Formula: see text]O_2max 56.1 ± 8.7 ml kg^-1 min^-1) performed a running heat tolerance test (30-min, 9 km h^-1/2% gradient, 40 °C/40%RH; HTT) and temperate (18 °C) exercise tests (maximal aerobic capacity [[Formula: see text]O_2max], speed at 4 mmol L^-1 blood lactate concentration ([La^-]) before (Pre) and following three-weeks (3-Weeks) normal training (CON; n = 8) or normal training with 28 ± 2 min post-exercise sauna bathing (101-108 °C, 5-10%RH) 3 ± 1 times per week (SAUNA; n = 12). Changes from Pre to 3-Weeks were compared between-groups using an analysis of co-variance. Six SAUNA participants continued the intervention for 7 weeks, completing an additional HTT (7-Weeks; data compared using a one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance).

RESULTS

During the HTT, SAUNA reduced peak rectal temperature (T_rec; - 0.2 °C), skin temperature (- 0.8 °C), and heart rate (- 11 beats min^-1) more than CON at 3-Weeks compared to Pre (all p < 0.05). SAUNA also improved [Formula: see text]O_2max (+ 0.27 L^-1 min^-1; p = 0.02) and speed at 4 mmol L^-1 [La^-] (+ 0.6 km h^-1; p = 0.01) more than CON at 3-Weeks compared to Pre. Only peak T_rec (- 0.1 °C; p = 0.03 decreased further from 3-Weeks to 7-Weeks in SAUNA (other physiological variables p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Three-weeks post-exercise sauna bathing is an effective and pragmatic method of heat acclimation, and an effective ergogenic aid. Extending the intervention to seven weeks only marginally improved T_rec.

Exercise heat acclimation has minimal effects on left ventricular volumes, function and systemic hemodynamics in euhydrated and dehydrated trained humans

This study demonstrates that 10 days of exercise heat acclimation has minimal effects on left ventricular volumes, intrinsic cardiac function, and systemic hemodynamics during prolonged, repeated semirecumbent exercise in moderate heat, where heart rate and blood volume are similar to preacclimation levels. However, progressive dehydration is consistently associated with similar degrees of hyperthermia and tachycardia and reductions in blood volume, diastolic filling of the left ventricle, stroke volume, and cardiac output, regardless of acclimation state.

A retrospective analysis to determine if exercise training-induced thermoregulatory adaptations are mediated by increased fitness or heat acclimation

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Are fitness-related improvements in thermoregulatory responses during uncompensable heat stress mediated by aerobic capacity V ̇ O 2 max or is it the partial heat acclimation associated with training? What is the main finding and its importance? During uncompensable heat stress, individuals with high and low V ̇ O 2 max displayed similar sweating and core temperature responses whereas exercise training in previously untrained individuals resulted in a greater sweat rate and a smaller rise in core temperature. These observations suggest that it is training, not V ̇ O 2 max per se, that mediates thermoregulatory improvements during uncompensable heat stress.

ABSTRACT

It remains unclear whether aerobic fitness, as defined by the maximum rate of oxygen consumption V ̇ O 2 max , independently improves heat dissipation in uncompensable environments, or whether the thermoregulatory adaptations associated with heat acclimation are due to repeated bouts of exercise-induced heat stress during regular aerobic training. The present analysis sought to determine if V ̇ O 2 max independently influences thermoregulatory sweating, maximum skin wettedness (ω_max ) and the change in rectal temperature (ΔT_re ) during 60 min of exercise in an uncompensable environment (37.0 ± 0.8°C, 4.0 ± 0.2 kPa, 64 ± 3% relative humidity) at a fixed rate of heat production per unit mass (6 W kg^-1 ). Retrospective analyses were performed on 22 participants (3 groups), aerobically unfit (UF; n = 7; V ̇ O 2 max : 41.7 ± 9.4 ml kg^-1  min^-1 ), aerobically fit (F; n = 7; V ̇ O 2 max : 55.6 ± 4.3 ml kg^-1  min^-1 ; P < 0.01) and aerobically unfit (n = 8) individuals, before (pre; V ̇ O 2 max : 45.8 ± 11.6 ml kg^-1  min^-1 ) and after (post; V ̇ O 2 max : 52.0 ± 11.1 ml kg^-1  min^-1 ; P < 0.001) an 8-week training intervention. ω_max was similar between UF (0.74 ± 0.09) and F (0.78 ± 0.08, P = 0.22). However, ω_max was greater post- (0.84 ± 0.08) compared to pre- (0.72 ± 0.06, P = 0.02) training. During exercise, mean local sweat rate (forearm and upper-back) was greater post- (1.24 ± 0.20 mg cm^-2  min^-1 ) compared to pre- (1.04 ± 0.25 mg cm^-2  min^-1 , P < 0.01) training, but similar between UF (0.94 ± 0.31 mg cm^-2  min^-1 , P = 0.90) and F (1.02 ± 0.30 mg cm^-2  min^-1 ). The ΔT_re at 60 min of exercise was greater pre- (1.13 ± 0.16°C, P < 0.01) compared to post- (0.96 ± 0.14°C) training, but similar between UF (0.85 ± 0.29°C, P = 0.22) and F (0.95 ± 0.22°C). Taken together, aerobic training, not V ̇ O 2 max per se, confers an increased ω_max , greater sweat rate, and smaller rise in core temperature during uncompensable heat stress in fit individuals.

Is core temperature the trigger of a menopausal hot flush?

OBJECTIVE

Menopausal hot flushes negatively impact quality of life and may be a biomarker of cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk; therefore understanding the physiology of hot flushes is important. Current thinking is that a small elevation (∼0.03-0.05C) in core temperature surpasses a sweating threshold (that is reduced in the menopause), sweating is activated, and a hot flush ensues. Nevertheless, more recent studies examining thermoregulatory control question whether core temperature per se can explain the trigger for a hot flush. The primary aim of this study was to assess the contribution of increases in core temperature on the occurrence of menopausal hot flushes.

METHODS

For this purpose, 108 hot flushes were objectively assessed in a laboratory setting in 72 symptomatic postmenopausal women (aged 45.8 ± 5.1 years; body mass index 25.9 ± 4.5 kg/m) from five previously reported studies. Women rested, wearing a tube-lined suit (or trousers), which was perfused with 34C water. A subset then underwent mild heat stress (48°C water). Sweat rate, skin blood flow, blood pressure, heart rate, skin, and core temperature were measured continuously throughout. A hot flush was objectively identified during rest (spontaneous hot flush) or mild heating as an abrupt increase in sternal sweat rate. Further, a subset of symptomatic postmenopausal women (n = 22) underwent whole-body passive heating for 60 minutes to identify core temperature thresholds and sensitivities for sweat rate and cutaneous vasodilation, which were compared to a subset of premenopausal women (n = 18). Data were analyzed using t tests and/or general linear modeling, and are presented as mean (95% confidence interval).

RESULTS

In the 20 minutes before a spontaneous hot flush, core temperature increased by 0.03 ± 0.12C (P < 0.05), but only 51% of hot flushes were preceded by an increase in core temperature. During mild heating, 76% of hot flushes were preceded by an increase in core temperature. The temperature thresholds for sweating were similar, but the vasodilatory threshold was higher in postmenopausal compared with premenopausal women (37.1 ± 0.2 vs 36.8 ± 0.3°C; P = 0.06).

CONCLUSION

We provide new evidence that menopausal hot flushes are unlikely triggered by an increase in core temperature. These findings provide important information about the physiology of hot flushes that have implications for treatment and management options for menopausal hot flushes.

Efficacy of Heat Mitigation Strategies on Core Temperature and Endurance Exercise: A Meta-Analysis

Background: A majority of high profile international sporting events, including the coming 2020 Tokyo Olympics, are held in warm and humid conditions. When exercising in the heat, the rapid rise of body core temperature (T_c) often results in an impairment of exercise capacity and performance. As such, heat mitigation strategies such as aerobic fitness (AF), heat acclimation/acclimatization (HA), pre-exercise cooling (PC) and fluid ingestion (FI) can be introduced to counteract the debilitating effects of heat strain. We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of these mitigation strategies using magnitude-based inferences.

Methods: A computer-based literature search was performed up to 24 July 2018 using the electronic databases: PubMed, SPORTDiscus and Google Scholar. After applying a set of inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 118 studies were selected for evaluation. Each study was assessed according to the intervention's ability to lower T_c before exercise, attenuate the rise of T_c during exercise, extend T_c at the end of exercise and improve endurance. Weighted averages of Hedges' g were calculated for each strategy.

Results: PC (g = 1.01) was most effective in lowering T_c before exercise, followed by HA (g = 0.72), AF (g = 0.65), and FI (g = 0.11). FI (g = 0.70) was most effective in attenuating the rate of rise of T_c, followed by HA (g = 0.35), AF (g = −0.03) and PC (g = −0.46). In extending T_c at the end of exercise, AF (g = 1.11) was most influential, followed by HA (g = −0.28), PC (g = −0.29) and FI (g = −0.50). In combination, AF (g = 0.45) was most effective at favorably altering T_c, followed by HA (g = 0.42), PC (g = 0.11) and FI (g = 0.09). AF (1.01) was also found to be most effective in improving endurance, followed by HA (0.19), FI (−0.16) and PC (−0.20).

Conclusion: AF was found to be the most effective in terms of a strategy's ability to favorably alter T_c, followed by HA, PC and lastly, FI. Interestingly, a similar ranking was observed in improving endurance, with AF being the most effective, followed by HA, FI, and PC. Knowledge gained from this meta-analysis will be useful in allowing athletes, coaches and sport scientists to make informed decisions when employing heat mitigation strategies during competitions in hot environments.

Aging and Thermoregulatory Control: The Clinical Implications of Exercising under Heat Stress in Older Individuals

Climate change is predicted to bring about a greater variability in weather patterns with an increase in extreme weather events such as sustained heat waves. This change may have a direct impact on population health since heat waves can exceed the physiological limit of compensability of vulnerable individuals. Indeed, many clinical reports suggest that individuals over the age of 60 years are consistently the most vulnerable, experiencing significantly greater adverse heat-related health outcomes than any other age cohort during environmental heat exposure. There is now evidence that aging is associated with an attenuated physiological ability to dissipate heat and that the risk of heat-related illness in these individuals is elevated, particularly when performing physical activity in the heat. The purpose of this review is to discuss mechanisms of thermoregulatory control and the factors that may increase the risk of heat-related illness in older individuals. An understanding of the mechanisms responsible for impaired thermoregulation in this population is of particular importance, given the current and projected increase in frequency and intensity of heat waves, as well as the promotion of regular exercise as a means of improving health-related quality of life and morbidity and mortality. As such, the clinical implications of this work in this population will be discussed.

Thermoregulatory dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurologic disorder that disrupts axonal myelin in the central nervous system. Demyelination produces alterations in saltatory conduction, slowed conduction velocity, and a predisposition to conduction block. An estimated 60-80% of MS patients experience temporary worsening of clinical signs and neurologic symptoms with heat exposure (Uhthoff's phenomenon). This heat intolerance in MS is related to the detrimental effects of increased temperature on action potential propagation in demyelinated axons, resulting in conduction slowing and/or block. Additionally, MS may produce impaired neural control of autonomic and endocrine functions. Isolating and interpreting mechanisms responsible for autonomic dysfunction due to MS can be difficult as it may involve sensory impairments, altered neural integration within the central nervous system, impaired effector responses, or combinations of all of these factors. MS lesions occur in areas of the brain responsible for the control and regulation of body temperature and thermoregulatory effector responses, resulting in impaired neural control of sudomotor pathways or neural-induced changes in eccrine sweat glands, as evidenced by observations of reduced sweating responses in MS patients. Although not comprehensive, some evidence exists concerning treatments (cooling, precooling, and pharmacologic) for the MS patient to preserve function and decrease symptom worsening during heat stress. This review focuses on four main themes influencing current understanding of thermoregulatory dysfunction in MS: (1) heat intolerance; (2) central regulation of body temperature; (3) thermoregulatory effector responses; and (4) countermeasures to improve or maintain function during thermal stress.

Improved sweat gland function during active heating in tennis athletes

BACKGROUND

Relatively few studies on the peripheral sweating mechanisms of trained tennis athletes have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to compare the sweating capacities of tennis athletes against untrained subjects (controls).

METHODS

Thirty-five healthy male volunteers participated including 15 untrained subjects and 20 trained tennis athletes (nationally ranked). Active heat generation was performed for 30 min (running at 60% VO 2 max ) in a climate chamber (temperature, 25.0°C ± 0.5°C; relative humidity, 60% ± 3%, termed active heating). Sweating data (local sweat onset time, local sweat volume, activated sweat glands, sweat output per gland, whole body sweat loss volume) were measured by the capacitance hygrometer-ventilated capsule method and starch-iodide paper. Mean body temperature was calculated from tympanic and skin temperatures.

RESULTS

Local sweat onset time was shorter for tennis athletes (p < 0.001). Local sweat volume, activated sweat glands of the torso and limbs, sweat output per gland, and whole body sweat loss volume were significantly higher for tennis athletes than control subjects after active heating (p < 0.001). Tympanic and mean body temperatures were lower among tennis athletes than controls (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that tennis athletes had increased regulatory capacity of their sweat gland function.

Restoration of thermoregulation after exercise

Performing exercise, especially in hot conditions, can heat the body, causing significant increases in internal body temperature. To offset this increase, powerful and highly developed autonomic thermoregulatory responses (i.e., skin blood flow and sweating) are activated to enhance whole body heat loss; a response mediated by temperature-sensitive receptors in both the skin and the internal core regions of the body. Independent of thermal control of heat loss, nonthermal factors can have profound consequences on the body's ability to dissipate heat during exercise. These include the activation of the body's sensory receptors (i.e., baroreceptors, metaboreceptors, mechanoreceptors, etc.) as well as phenotypic factors such as age, sex, acclimation, fitness, and chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes). The influence of these factors extends into recovery such that marked impairments in thermoregulatory function occur, leading to prolonged and sustained elevations in body core temperature. Irrespective of the level of hyperthermia, there is a time-dependent suppression of the body's physiological ability to dissipate heat. This delay in the restoration of postexercise thermoregulation has been associated with disturbances in cardiovascular function which manifest most commonly as postexercise hypotension. This review examines the current knowledge regarding the restoration of thermoregulation postexercise. In addition, the factors that are thought to accelerate or delay the return of body core temperature to resting levels are highlighted with a particular emphasis on strategies to manage heat stress in athletic and/or occupational settings.

Distinct effects of blood flow and temperature on cutaneous microvascular adaptation

PURPOSE

We performed two experiments to determine whether cutaneous microvascular adaptations in response to repeated core temperature (Tc) elevation are mediated by increases in skin blood flow (SkBF) and/or skin temperature.

METHODS

Healthy subjects participated for 8 wk in thrice-weekly bouts of 30-min lower limb heating (40°C). In study 1, both forearms were "clamped" at basal skin temperature throughout each heating bout (n = 9). Study 2 involved identical lower limb heating, with the forearms under ambient conditions (unclamped, n = 10). In both studies, a cuff was inflated around one forearm during the heating bouts to assess the contribution of SkBF and temperature responses. We assessed forearm SkBF responses to both lower limb (systemic reflex) heating and to local heating of the forearm skin, pre- and postintervention.

RESULTS

Acutely, lower limb heating increased Tc (study 1, 0.63°C ± 0.15°C; study 2, 0.69°C ± 0.19°C; P < 0.001) and forearm SkBF (study 1, 0.13 ± 0.03 vs 1.52 ± 0.51; study 2, 0.14 ± 0.01 vs 1.17 ± 0.38 cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC); P < 0.001), with skin responses significantly attenuated in the cuffed forearm (P < 0.01). SkBF responses to local heating decreased in study 1 (clamped forearms; week 0 vs week 8, 1.46 ± 0.52 vs 0.99 ± 0.44 CVC; P < 0.05), whereas increases occurred in study 2 (unclamped; week 0 vs week 8, 1.89 ± 0.57 vs 2.27 ± 0.52 CVC; P < 0.05). Cuff placement abolished local adaptations in both studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that repeated increases in SkBF and skin temperature result in increased skin flux responses to local heating, whereas repeated increases in SkBF in the absence of change in skin temperature induced the opposite response. Repeated increases in Tc induce intrinsic microvascular changes, the nature of which are dependent upon both SkBF and skin temperature.

Influence of exercise training with thigh compression on heat-loss responses

We investigated the effect of thigh compression, which accelerates activation of central command and muscle metabo- and mechanoreceptors, on the adaptation of sweating and cutaneous vascular responses during exercise heat acclimation. Nine non-heat-acclimated male subjects were acclimated to heat (32 °C and 50% RH) while cycling [50% of maximum oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 m a x )] 60 min/day for 7 days (control group). The experimental group (n = 9) conducted the same training while the proximal thighs were compressed by a cuff at 60 mmHg. V ˙ O 2 m a x , acetylcholine-induced forearm sweating rate (iontophoresis), and mean sweating and cutaneous vascular responses on the forehead, chest, and forearm (SRmean and CVCmean ) during passive heating were evaluated before and after training. Training significantly increased V ˙ O 2 m a x while did not affect acetylcholine-induced sweating rates in either group. Training significantly decreased Tb thresholds for SRmean and CVCmean during passive heating without the alternations of sensitivities in both groups. Although SRmean during passive heating at a given ΔTb was not improved in either group, CVCmean was significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated after exercise training only in experimental group. Our results indicate that thigh cuff compression during exercise heat acclimation does not influence adaptation of the sweating response but attenuate cutaneous vasodilation.

Sex differences in acetylcholine-induced sweating responses due to physical training

Purpose

The present study examined sex differences in the sweat gland response to acetylcholine (ACh) in physically trained and untrained male and female subjects.

Methods

Sweating responses were induced on the forearm and thigh in resting subjects by ACh iontophoresis using a 10% solution at 2 mA for 5 min at 26°C and 50% relative humidity.

Results

The ACh-induced sweating rate (SR) on the forearm and thigh was greater in physically trained male (P < 0.001 for the forearm and thigh, respectively) and female (P = 0.08 for the forearm, P < 0.001 for the thigh) subjects than in untrained subjects of both sexes. The SR was also significantly greater in physically trained males compared to females at both sites (P < 0.001) and in untrained males compared to females on the thigh (P < 0.02) only, although the degree of difference was greater in trained subjects than in untrained subjects. These sex differences can be attributed to the difference in sweat output per gland rather than the number of activated sweat glands.

Conclusion

We conclude that physical training enhances the ACh-induced SR in both sexes but that the degree of enhancement is greater in male than in female subjects. The effects of physical training and sex on the SR may be due to changes in peripheral sensitivity to ACh and/or sweat gland size.

Quantification of continual anthropogenic pollutants released in swimming pools

Disinfection in swimming pools is often performed by chlorination, However, anthropogenic pollutants from swimmers will react with chlorine and form disinfection by-products (DBPs). DBPs are unwanted from a health point of view, because some are irritating, while others might be carcinogenic. The reduction of anthropogenic pollutants will lead to a reduction in DBPs. This paper investigates the continual release of anthropogenic pollutants by means of controlled sweat experiments in a pool tank during laboratory time-series experiments (LTS experiments) and also during on-site experiments (OS experiments) in a swimming pool. The sweat released during the OS and LTS experiments was very similar. The sweat rate found was 0.1-0.2 L/m(2)/h at water temperatures below 29 °C and increased linearly with increasing water temperatures to 0.8 L/m(2)/h at 35 °C. The continual anthropogenic pollutant release (CAPR) not only consisted of sweat, particles (mainly skin fragments and hair) and micro-organisms, but also sebum (skin lipids) has to be considered. The release of most components can be explained by the composition of sweat. The average release during 30 min of exercise is 250 mg/bather non-purgeable organic carbon (NPOC), 77.3 mg/bather total nitrogen (TN), 37.1 mg/bather urea and 10.1 mg/bather ammonium. The release of NPOC cannot be explained by the composition of sweat and is most probably a result of sebum release. The average release of other components was 1.31 × 10(9) # particles/bather (2-50 μm), 5.2 μg/bather intracellular adenosine triphosphate (cATP) and 9.3 × 10(6) intact cell count/bather (iCC). The pool water temperature was the main parameter to restrain the CAPR. This study showed that a significant amount of the total anthropogenic pollutants release is due to unhygienic behaviour of bathers.

Neither short-term sprint nor endurance training enhances thermal response to exercise in a hot environment

Improvements in fitness from a brief period of physical training may elicit sufficient physiological adaptations to decrease thermal strain during exercise in the heat. This study tested heat adaptation from short-term endurance (ET) and sprint-interval (SIT) training in moderately fit individuals. The ET group (n = 8) cycled at 65% [Formula: see text] for 8 sessions (4 sessions each at 60 and 90 min, respectively) over two weeks, while the SIT group (n = 8) performed repeated 30-s Wingate sprints (resistance 7.5% body mass; 4 sessions each of 4 and 5 sprints, respectively). [Formula: see text] and heat stress testing (HST; 60 min cycling at 65% [Formula: see text] at 35ºC, 40% relative humidity) were performed pre- and post-training. [Formula: see text]increased by 11% (p = 0.025) and 14% (p = 0.020) for the ET and SIT groups post-training, respectively. Thermal stress was similar pre- and post-training, with no significant difference in the rate of whole-body metabolic heat production (p = 0.106) for either group post-training. Cardiovascular improvement was evident with both ET and SIT, with a significant mean decrease (p = 0.014) in HR for both groups (ET: 146 ± 15 beats·min(-1)pre vs. 142 ± 12 beats·min(-1)post; SIT: 149 ± 15 beats·min(-1)pre vs. 146 ± 12 beats·min(-1)post) during the HST post-training. However, mean sweat loss (p = 0.248) and the rise in core temperature (p = 0. 260) did not change significantly comparing pre- and post-training HST. While short-term ET and SIT both induced significant improvements in aerobic fitness and decreased cardiovascular strain, neither elicited improved thermal responses during exercise in the heat and do not replace heat acclimatization.

Peripheral circulation

Blood flow (BF) increases with increasing exercise intensity in skeletal, respiratory, and cardiac muscle. In humans during maximal exercise intensities, 85% to 90% of total cardiac output is distributed to skeletal and cardiac muscle. During exercise BF increases modestly and heterogeneously to brain and decreases in gastrointestinal, reproductive, and renal tissues and shows little to no change in skin. If the duration of exercise is sufficient to increase body/core temperature, skin BF is also increased in humans. Because blood pressure changes little during exercise, changes in distribution of BF with incremental exercise result from changes in vascular conductance. These changes in distribution of BF throughout the body contribute to decreases in mixed venous oxygen content, serve to supply adequate oxygen to the active skeletal muscles, and support metabolism of other tissues while maintaining homeostasis. This review discusses the response of the peripheral circulation of humans to acute and chronic dynamic exercise and mechanisms responsible for these responses. This is accomplished in the context of leading the reader on a tour through the peripheral circulation during dynamic exercise. During this tour, we consider what is known about how each vascular bed controls BF during exercise and how these control mechanisms are modified by chronic physical activity/exercise training. The tour ends by comparing responses of the systemic circulation to those of the pulmonary circulation relative to the effects of exercise on the regional distribution of BF and mechanisms responsible for control of resistance/conductance in the systemic and pulmonary circulations.

The evaporative requirement for heat balance determines whole-body sweat rate during exercise under conditions permitting full evaporation

Although the requirements for heat dissipation during exercise are determined by the necessity for heat balance, few studies have considered them when examining sweat production and its potential modulators. Rather, the majority of studies have used an experimental protocol based on a fixed percentage of maximum oxygen uptake (% ). Using multiple regression analysis, we examined the independent contribution of the evaporative requirement for heat balance (Ereq) and % to whole-body sweat rate (WBSR) during exercise. We hypothesised that WBSR would be determined by Ereq and not by % . A total of 23 males performed two separate experiments during which they exercised for 90 min at different rates of metabolic heat production (200, 350, 500 W) at a fixed air temperature (30°C, n = 8), or at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production (290 W) at different air temperatures (30, 35, 40°C, n = 15 and 45°C, n = 7). Whole-body evaporative heat loss was measured by direct calorimetry and used to calculate absolute WBSR in grams per minute. The conditions employed resulted in a wide range of Ereq (131-487 W) and % (15-55%). The individual variation in non-steady-state (0-30 min) and steady-state (30-90 min) WBSR correlated significantly with Ereq (P < 0.001). In contrast, % correlated negatively with the residual variation in WBSR not explained by Ereq, and marginally increased (∼2%) the amount of total variability in WBSR described by Ereq alone (non-steady state: R(2) = 0.885; steady state: R(2) = 0.930). These data provide clear evidence that absolute WBSR during exercise is determined by Ereq, not by % . Future studies should therefore use an experimental protocol which ensures a fixed Ereq when examining absolute WBSR between individuals, irrespective of potential differences in relative exercise intensity.

Exercise training and the control of skin blood flow in older adults

The ability to control skin blood flow decreases with primary aging, making older adults less able to adequately thermoregulate and repair cutaneous wounds. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity, diet, and smoking might interact with the aging process to modulate "normal" age-associated changes in the cutaneous microcirculation. The main focus of this brief review is the effects of exercise training on the control of skin blood flow in older adults.

Sex modulates whole-body sudomotor thermosensitivity during exercise

It is unclear whether true physiological differences exist in temperature regulation between males and females during exercise, independently of differences in physical characteristics and metabolic heat production. Therefore, we examined differences in the onset threshold and thermosensitivity of whole-body sudomotor activity and cutaneous vascular conductance between males and females matched for body mass and surface area. Nine males and nine females performed 90 min of exercise at each of the following intensities in a warm/dry environment: 50% of maximum oxygen consumption (V(O(2)max)) and at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production equal to 500 W. Evaporative heat loss (EHL, direct calorimetry) and cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC, laser-Doppler) were measured continuously. Mean body temperature was calculated from the measurements of oesophageal and mean skin temperatures. During exercise at 50% V(O(2)max), a lower rate of sudomotor activity was observed in females (385 ± 12 vs. 512 ± 24 W, P < 0.001). However, irrespective of sex, individual EHL values were strongly associated with metabolic heat production (R(2) = 0.82, P < 0.001). Nonetheless, a lower rate of EHL was observed in females when exercise was performed at 500 W of metabolic heat production (419 ± 7 vs. 454 ± 11 W, P = 0.032). Furthermore, a lower increase in EHL per increase in mean body temperature was observed in females (553 ± 77 vs. 795 ± 85 W °C(-1), P = 0.051), with no differences in the onset threshold (36.77 ± 0.06 vs. 36.61 ± 0.11°C, P = 0.242). In contrast, no differences were observed in CVC. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that females have a lower thermosensitivity of the whole-body sudomotor response compared to males during exercise in the heat performed at a fixed rate of metabolic heat production.

Large differences in peak oxygen uptake do not independently alter changes in core temperature and sweating during exercise

The independent influence of peak oxygen uptake (Vo(₂ peak)) on changes in thermoregulatory responses during exercise in a neutral climate has not been previously isolated because of complex interactions between Vo(₂ peak), metabolic heat production (H(prod)), body mass, and body surface area (BSA). It was hypothesized that Vo(₂ peak) does not independently alter changes in core temperature and sweating during exercise. Fourteen males, 7 high (HI) Vo(₂ peak): 60.1 ± 4.5 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; 7 low (LO) Vo(₂ peak): 40.3 ± 2.9 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹ matched for body mass (HI: 78.2 ± 6.1 kg; LO: 78.7 ± 7.1 kg) and BSA (HI: 1.97 ± 0.08 m²; LO: 1.94 ± 0.08 m²), cycled for 60-min at 1) a fixed heat production (FHP trial) and 2) a relative exercise intensity of 60% Vo(₂ peak) (REL trial) at 24.8 ± 0.6°C, 26 ± 10% RH. In the FHP trial, H(prod) was similar between the HI (542 ± 38 W, 7.0 ± 0.6 W/kg or 275 ± 25 W/m²) and LO (535 ± 39 W, 6.9 ± 0.9 W/kg or 277 ± 29 W/m²) groups, while changes in rectal (T(re): HI: 0.87 ± 0.15°C, LO: 0.87 ± 0.18°C, P = 1.00) and aural canal (T(au): HI: 0.70 ± 0.12°C, LO: 0.74 ± 0.21°C, P = 0.65) temperature, whole-body sweat loss (WBSL) (HI: 434 ± 80 ml, LO: 440 ± 41 ml; P = 0.86), and steady-state local sweating (LSR(back)) (P = 0.40) were all similar despite relative exercise intensity being different (HI: 39.7 ± 4.2%, LO: 57.6 ± 8.0% Vo(2 peak); P = 0.001). At 60% Vo(2 peak), H(prod) was greater in the HI (834 ± 77 W, 10.7 ± 1.3 W/kg or 423 ± 44 W/m²) compared with LO (600 ± 90 W, 7.7 ± 1.4 W/kg or 310 ± 50 W/m²) group (all P < 0.001), as were changes in T(re) (HI: 1.43 ± 0.28°C, LO: 0.89 ± 0.19°C; P = 0.001) and T(au) (HI: 1.11 ± 0.21°C, LO: 0.66 ± 0.14°C; P < 0.001), and WBSL between 0 and 15, 15 and 30, 30 and 45, and 45 and 60 min (all P < 0.01), and LSR(back) (P = 0.02). The absolute esophageal temperature (T(es)) onset for sudomotor activity was ∼0.3°C lower (P < 0.05) in the HI group, but the change in T(es) from preexercise values before sweating onset was similar between groups. Sudomotor thermosensitivity during exercise were similar in both FHP (P = 0.22) and REL (P = 0.77) trials. In conclusion, changes in core temperature and sweating during exercise in a neutral climate are determined by H(prod), mass, and BSA, not Vo(₂ peak).

Changes in the control of skin blood flow with exercise training: where do cutaneous vascular adaptations fit in?

Heat is the most abundant byproduct of cellular metabolism. As such, dynamic exercise in which a significant percentage of muscle mass is engaged generates thermoregulatory demands that are met in part by increases in skin blood flow. Increased skin blood flow during exercise adds to the demands on cardiac output and confers additional circulatory strain beyond that associated with perfusion of active muscle alone. Endurance exercise training results in a number of physiological adaptations which ultimately reduce circulatory strain and shift thermoregulatory control of skin blood flow to higher levels of blood flow for a given core temperature. In addition, exercise training induces peripheral vascular adaptations within the cutaneous microvasculature indicative of enhanced endothelium-dependent vasomotor function. However, it is not currently clear how (or if) these local vascular adaptations contribute to the beneficial changes in thermoregulatory control of skin blood flow following exercise training. The purpose of this Hot Topic Review is to synthesize the literature pertaining to exercise training-mediated changes in cutaneous microvascular reactivity and thermoregulatory control of skin blood flow. In addition, we address mechanisms driving changes in cutaneous microvascular reactivity and thermoregulatory control of skin blood flow, and pose the question: what (if any) is the functional role of increased cutaneous microvascular reactivity following exercise training?

Short-term exercise-heat acclimation enhances skin vasodilation but not hyperthermic hyperpnea in humans exercising in a hot environment

We tested the hypothesis that short-term exercise-heat acclimation (EHA) attenuates hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation in humans exercising in a hot environment. Twenty-one male subjects were divided into the two groups: control (C, n = 11) and EHA (n = 10). Subjects in C performed exercise-heat tests [cycle exercise for ~75 min at 58% [Formula: see text] (37°C, 50% relative humidity)] before and after a 6-day interval with no training, while subjects in EHA performed the tests before and after exercise training in a hot environment (37°C). The training entailed four 20-min bouts of exercise at 50% [Formula: see text] separated by 10 min of rest daily for 6 days. In C, comparison of the variables recorded before and after the no-training period revealed no changes. In EHA, the training increased resting plasma volume, while it reduced esophageal temperature (T (es)), heart rate at rest and during exercise, and arterial blood pressure and oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) during exercise. The training lowered the T (es) threshold for increasing forearm vascular conductance (FVC), while it increased the slope relating FVC to T (es) and the peak FVC during exercise. It also lowered minute ventilation ([Formula: see text]) during exercise, but this effect disappeared after removing the influence of [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text]. The training did not change the slope relating ventilatory variables to T (es). We conclude that short-term EHA lowers ventilation largely by reducing metabolism, but it does not affect the sensitivity of hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation during submaximal, moderate-intensity exercise in humans.

Different effects of heat exposure upon exercise performance in the morning and afternoon

Independent of environmental conditions, rectal temperature follows a circadian rhythm with an acrophase in the late afternoon. In neutral environment, this diurnal increase in temperature is believed to have a passive warm-up effect improving muscle contractility, and in turn, muscle force, power and performance. However, a hot environment blunts the diurnal variation in muscle function by only improving muscle contractility, and in turn, muscle force, power and performance in the morning, when body temperature is at its lowest. Despite this diurnal variation in muscle function, long-duration exercise is only slightly affected by the time-of-day in neutral environment. However, higher afternoon body temperatures can reduce the heat storage capacity and result in a reduction in exercise capacity in hot environments. In addition, in parallel to the circadian variations in muscle contractility and central temperature, exercise capacity in hot environment may also be affected by the diurnal variations in melatonin concentration and in the onset of peripheral vasodilatation and sweating.

Thermoregulation in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disorder that disrupts axonal myelin in the central nervous system. Demyelination produces alterations in saltatory conduction, slowed conduction velocity, and a predisposition to conduction block. An estimated 60-80% of MS patients experience temporary worsening of clinical signs and neurological symptoms with heat exposure. Additionally, MS may produce impaired neural control of autonomic and endocrine functions. This review focuses on five main themes regarding the current understanding of thermoregulatory dysfunction in MS: 1) heat sensitivity; 2) central regulation of body temperature; 3) thermoregulatory effector responses; 4) heat-induced fatigue; and 5) countermeasures to improve or maintain function during thermal stress. Heat sensitivity in MS is related to the detrimental effects of increased temperature on action potential propagation in demyelinated axons, resulting in conduction slowing and/or block, which can be quantitatively characterized using precise measurements of ocular movements. MS lesions can also occur in areas of the brain responsible for the control and regulation of body temperature and thermoregulatory effector responses, resulting in impaired neural control of sudomotor pathways or neural-induced changes in eccrine sweat glands, as evidenced by observations of reduced sweating responses in MS patients. Fatigue during thermal stress is common in MS and results in decreased motor function and increased symptomatology likely due to impairments in central conduction. Although not comprehensive, some evidence exists concerning treatments (cooling, precooling, and pharmacological) for the MS patient to preserve function and decrease symptom worsening during heat stress.

Aerobically trained individuals have greater increases in rectal temperature than untrained ones during exercise in the heat at similar relative intensities

To determine if the increases in rectal temperature (T(REC)) during exercise in the heat at a given percent of VO2peak depend on a subject's aerobic fitness level. On three occasions, 10 endurance-trained (Tr) and 10 untrained (UTr) subjects (VO2peak: 60 +/- 6 vs. 44 +/- 3 mL kg(-1) min(-1), P < 0.05) cycled in a hot-dry environment (36 +/- 1 degrees C; 25 +/- 2% humidity, airflow 2.5 m s(-1)) at three workloads (40, 60, and 80% VO2peak). At the same percent of VO2peak, on average, Tr had 28 +/- 5% higher heat production but also higher skin blood flow (29 +/- 3%) and sweat rate (20 +/- 7%; P = 0.07) and lower skin temperature (0.5 degrees C; P < 0.05). Pre-exercise T(REC) was lower in the Tr subjects (37.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 37.6 +/- 0.2; P < 0.05) but similar to the UTr at the end of 40 and 60% VO2peak trials. Thus, exercise T(REC) increased more in the Tr group than in the UTr group (0.6 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.3 +/- 0.1 degrees C at 40% VO2peak and 1.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.3 degrees C at 60% VO2peak; P < 0.05). At 80% VO2peak not only the increase in T(REC) (1.7 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.3 +/- 0.3 degrees C) but also the final T(REC) was larger in Tr than in UTr subjects (39.15 +/- 0.1 vs. 38.85 +/- 0.1 degrees C; P < 0.05). During exercise in the heat at the same relative intensity, aerobically trained individuals have a larger rise in T(REC) than do the untrained ones which renders them more hyperthermic after high-intensity exercise.