Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes

Puck Alkemade; Johannus Q. DE Korte; Coen C.W.G. Bongers; Hein A.M. Daanen; Maria T.E. Hopman; Thomas W.J. Janssen; Thijs M.H. Eijsvogels

doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222

Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes

Puck Alkemade, Johannus Q. DE Korte, Coen C.W.G. Bongers, Hein A.M. Daanen, Maria T.E. Hopman, Thomas W.J. Janssen, Thijs M.H. Eijsvogels

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: 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: 20 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 ± 1.2 °C, relative humidity 54 ± 7%) and a hot-humid environment (31.9 ± 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 [IQR]: 26 [20-31]% vs. 27 [19-32]%; p = 0.80). AB athletes demonstrated larger exercise-induced increases in gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), whereas Tgi 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, whilst Tgi elevations were markedly lower in para-athletes. We observed large inter-individual variation within both groups, suggesting that in both para- and AB athletes, personalized heat mitigation plans should be developed based on individual thermal testing.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1835-1844
Number of pages	10
Journal	Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Volume	55
Issue number	10
Early online date	22 May 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222 https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Funding

This study was funded by ZonMw (no. 546001003) as part of the ThermoTokyo project. P. A. was funded by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (P16-28). All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest to report relevant to the present study. The results of this study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. The results of the present study do not constitute endorsement by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Funders	Funder number
ZonMw	546001003
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek	P16-28

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Alkemade, P., DE Korte, J. Q., Bongers, C. C. W. G., Daanen, H. A. M., Hopman, M. T. E., Janssen, T. W. J., & Eijsvogels, T. M. H. (2023). Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 55(10), 1835-1844. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222, https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222

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title = "Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes",

abstract = "PURPOSE: 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: 20 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 ± 1.2 °C, relative humidity 54 ± 7%) and a hot-humid environment (31.9 ± 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 [IQR]: 26 [20-31]% vs. 27 [19-32]%; p = 0.80). AB athletes demonstrated larger exercise-induced increases in gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), whereas Tgi 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, whilst Tgi elevations were markedly lower in para-athletes. We observed large inter-individual variation within both groups, suggesting that in both para- and AB athletes, personalized heat mitigation plans should be developed based on individual thermal testing.",

author = "Puck Alkemade and {DE Korte}, {Johannus Q.} and Bongers, {Coen C.W.G.} and Daanen, {Hein A.M.} and Hopman, {Maria T.E.} and Janssen, {Thomas W.J.} and Eijsvogels, {Thijs M.H.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine.",

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doi = "10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222",

language = "English",

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Alkemade, P, DE Korte, JQ, Bongers, CCWG, Daanen, HAM, Hopman, MTE, Janssen, TWJ & Eijsvogels, TMH 2023, 'Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes', Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, vol. 55, no. 10, pp. 1835-1844. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222, https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003222

TY - JOUR

T1 - Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes

AU - Alkemade, Puck

AU - DE Korte, Johannus Q.

AU - Bongers, Coen C.W.G.

AU - Daanen, Hein A.M.

AU - Hopman, Maria T.E.

AU - Janssen, Thomas W.J.

AU - Eijsvogels, Thijs M.H.

PY - 2023/10/1

Y1 - 2023/10/1

N2 - PURPOSE: 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: 20 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 ± 1.2 °C, relative humidity 54 ± 7%) and a hot-humid environment (31.9 ± 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 [IQR]: 26 [20-31]% vs. 27 [19-32]%; p = 0.80). AB athletes demonstrated larger exercise-induced increases in gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), whereas Tgi 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, whilst Tgi elevations were markedly lower in para-athletes. We observed large inter-individual variation within both groups, suggesting that in both para- and AB athletes, personalized heat mitigation plans should be developed based on individual thermal testing.

AB - PURPOSE: 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: 20 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 ± 1.2 °C, relative humidity 54 ± 7%) and a hot-humid environment (31.9 ± 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 [IQR]: 26 [20-31]% vs. 27 [19-32]%; p = 0.80). AB athletes demonstrated larger exercise-induced increases in gastrointestinal temperature (Tgi) in hot-humid versus temperate conditions (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.5, p < 0.001), whereas Tgi 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, whilst Tgi elevations were markedly lower in para-athletes. We observed large inter-individual variation within both groups, suggesting that in both para- and AB athletes, personalized heat mitigation plans should be developed based on individual thermal testing.

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Humid Heat Equally Impairs Maximal Exercise Performance in Elite Para-Athletes and Able-Bodied Athletes

Abstract

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