The efficacy of weekly and bi-weekly heat training to maintain the physiological benefits of heat acclimation

• Published in: Journal of science and medicine in sport Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 255 - 260
• Main Authors: Benjamin, Courteney L., Sekiguchi, Yasuki, Armstrong, Lawrence E., Manning, Ciara N., Struder, Jeb F., Butler, Cody R., Huggins, Robert A., Stearns, Rebecca L., Lee, Elaine C., Casa, Douglas J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2022; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Acclimatization - physiology; Adaptation; Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Aerobic performance; Endurance; Exercise; Exercise - physiology; Fitness equipment; Heart Rate - physiology; Heat; Hot Temperature; Humans; Hyperthermia; Male; Middle Aged; Physical fitness; Physiology; Skin; Thermoregulation; Urine; Young Adult; England; Kansas; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; Finland; Thermoregulation; Endurance; Aerobic performance; Adaptation
• ISSN: 1440-2440; 1878-1861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2021.10.006

To examine the efficacy of weekly and bi-weekly heat training to maintain heat acclimatization (HAz) and heat acclimation (HA) for 8 weeks in aerobically trained athletes. Randomized, between-group. Twenty-four males (mean [m ± standard deviation [sd]; (age, 34 ± 12 y; body mass, 72.6 ± 8.8 kg, VO2peak, 57.7 ± 6.8 mL·kg−1·min−1) completed five trials (baseline, following HAz, following HA (HAz + HA), four weeks into heat training [HTWK4], and eight weeks into HT [HTWK8] that involved 60 min of steady-state exercise (59.1 ± 1.8% vVO2peak) in an environmental laboratory (wet bulb globe temperature [WBGT], 29.6 ± 1.4 °C) on a motorized treadmill. Throughout exercise, heart rate (HR) and rectal temperature (Trec) were recorded. Following HAz + HA, participants were assigned to three groups: control group (HT0), once per week heat training (HT1), and twice per week heat training (HT2). HT involved heated exercise (WBGT, 33.3 ± 1.3 °C) to achieve hyperthermia (38.5–39.75 °C) for 60 min. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to determine differences. HAz + HA resulted in significant improvements in HR (p < 0.001) and Trec (p < 0.001). At HTWK8, HR was significantly higher in HT0 (174 ± 22 beats⋅min−1) compared to HT2 (151 ± 17 beats⋅min−1, p < 0.023), but was not different than HT1 (159 ± 17 beats⋅min−1, p = 0.112). There was no difference in % change of Trec from post-HAz + HA to HTWK4 (0.6 ± 1.3%; p = 0.218), however, HTWK8 (1.8 ± 1.4%) was significantly greater than post-HAz + HA in HT0 (p = 0.009). Bi-weekly HT provided clear evidence for the ability to maintain physiological adaptions for 8 weeks following HA.