Abstract
Paralympic athletes may be at increased risk for exertional heat illness (EHI) due to reduced thermoregulatory ability as a consequence of their impairment. This study investigated the occurrence of heat-stress related symptoms and EHI, and the use of heat mitigation strategies in Paralympic athletes, both in relation to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and previous events. Paralympic athletes competing in Tokyo 2020 were invited to complete an online survey five weeks prior to the Paralympics and up to eight weeks after the Games. 107 athletes (30 [24–38] years, 52% female, 20 nationalities, 21 sports) completed the survey. 57% of respondents had previously experienced heat-stress related symptoms, while 9% had been medically diagnosed with EHI. In Tokyo, 21% experienced at least one heat-stress related symptom, while none reported an EHI. The most common symptom and EHI were, respectively, dizziness and dehydration. In preparation for Tokyo, 58% of respondents used a heat acclimation strategy, most commonly heat acclimatization, which was more than in preparation for previous events (45%; P = 0.007). Cooling strategies were used by 77% of athletes in Tokyo, compared to 66% during past events (P = 0.18). Cold towels and packs were used most commonly. Respondents reported no medically-diagnosed EHIs during the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, despite the hot and humid conditions in the first seven days of competition. Heat acclimation and cooling strategies were used by the majority of athletes, with heat acclimation being adopted more often than for previous competitions.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 264-275 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Temperature |
Volume | 10 |
Issue number | 2 |
Early online date | 17 Nov 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Funding
This work was supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek under Grant [P16-28]. The authors would like to thank the participating athletes for completing the survey, and everyone who was involved in advertisement of the survey. Special thanks to Kayla Alamdari, Sina David, Maxim Krasnoperov, Yiming Ma, Farah Mneimeh, Rafael Muchaxo, Vsevolod Oshkin and Dmitrii Pravilov for translation of the survey questions.
Funders | Funder number |
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Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek | P16-28 |
Keywords
- adapted sports
- cooling
- Heat acclimation
- heat mitigation
- impairment
- para-athletes
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Heat preparedness and exertional heat illness in Paralympic athletes: A Tokyo 2020 survey
Alkemade, P. (Creator), Daanen, H. (Creator), Janssen, T. (Creator), Broad, E. (Creator), Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (Creator), Ibusuki, T. (Creator), Kneepkens, H. (Creator), Périard, J. D. (Creator) & Eijsvogels, T. M. H. (Creator), Taylor&Francis, 2022
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.21571840.v1, https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Heat_preparedness_and_exertional_heat_illness_in_Paralympic_athletes_A_Tokyo_2020_survey/21571840/1
Dataset / Software: Dataset
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Heat preparedness and exertional heat illness in Paralympic athletes: A Tokyo 2020 survey
Alkemade, P. (Creator), Daanen, H. (Creator), Janssen, T. (Creator), Broad, E. (Creator), Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L. (Creator), Ibusuki, T. (Creator), Kneepkens, H. (Creator), Périard, J. D. (Creator) & Eijsvogels, T. M. H. (Creator), Taylor&Francis, 2022
DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.21571840, https://tandf.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Heat_preparedness_and_exertional_heat_illness_in_Paralympic_athletes_A_Tokyo_2020_survey/21571840
Dataset / Software: Dataset