The fan cooling vest use reduces thermal and perceptual strain during outdoor exercise in the heat on a sunny summer day.

The fan cooling vest is coming into very common use by Japanese outdoor manual workers. We examined that to what extent using this vest reduces thermal strain and perception during outdoor exercise in the heat on a sunny summer day. Ten male baseball players in high school conducted two baseball training sessions for 2-h with (VEST) or without (CON) a commercially available fan cooling vest on a baseball uniform. These sessions commenced at 10 a.m. on separate days in early August. The fan airflow rate attached the vest was 62 L·s-1. Neither ambient temperature (Mean ± SD: VEST 31.9 ± 0.2°C; CON 31.8 ± 0.7°C), wet-bulb globe temperature (VEST 31.2 ± 0.4°C; CON 31.4 ± 0.5°C) nor solar radiation (VEST 1008 ± 136 W·m-2; CON 1042 ± 66 W·m-2) was different between trials. Mean skin temperature (VEST 34.5 ± 1.1°C; CON 35.1 ± 1.4°C), infrared tympanic temperature (VEST 38.9 ± 0.9°C; CON 39.2 ± 1.2°C), heart rate (VEST 127 ± 31 bpm; CON 139 ± 33 bpm), body heat storage (VEST 140 ± 34 W·m-2; CON 160 ± 22 W·m-2), thermal sensation (- 4-4: VEST 0 ± 2; CON 3 ± 1) and rating of perceived exertion (6-20: VEST 11 ± 2; CON 14 ± 2) were lower in VEST than CON (all P < 0.05). Total distance measured with a global positioning system (VEST 3704 ± 293 m; CON 3936 ± 501 m) and body fluid variables were not different between trials. This study indicates that the fan cooling vest use can reduce thermal strain and perception during outdoor exercise in the heat on a sunny summer day. Cooling with this vest would be effective to mitigate thermal risks and perceptual stress in athletes and sports participants under such settings.

Solar Radiation Exposure Has Diurnal Effects on Thermoregulatory Responses During High-Intensity Exercise in the Heat Outdoors.

Otani, H, Goto, T, Goto, H, Hosokawa, Y, and Shirato, M. Solar radiation exposure has diurnal effects on thermoregulatory responses during high-intensity exercise in the heat outdoors. J Strength Cond Res 33(10): 2608-2615, 2019-This study investigated the diurnal effects of variations in solar radiation associated with changing solar elevation angle on thermoregulatory responses during high-intensity exercise in the heat outdoors. Ten male high school soccer players completed two 2-hour soccer training sessions under a clear sky in the heat of summer. These sessions were commenced at 0900 hours (AM) and 1600 hours (PM) on separate days. Solar radiation and elevation angle were higher in AM (820-1,070 W·m and 45-69°) than PM (620-110 W·m and 34-10°: both p < 0.001). Neither ambient temperature (AM 29-32° C; PM 31-31° C) nor wet-bulb globe temperature was different between trials. Although mean skin temperature was not different between trials, infrared tympanic temperature was higher at the end of exercise in AM than PM (p < 0.001). Heart rate (p < 0.01) and body heat gain from the sun (p < 0.001) were greater during exercise in AM than PM. Dry heat loss was smaller, but evaporative heat loss was greater in AM than PM (both p < 0.001). Thermal sensation and rating of perceived exertion were similar between trials, but GPS measurements showed a less total distance and distance covered by walking, jogging, and running in AM than PM (p < 0.01). This study demonstrates a greater thermoregulatory strain in AM than PM during 2-hour high-intensity soccer training in the heat under a clear sky. This observation is accompanied by a progressive increase in environmental heat stress with rising solar radiation and elevation angle in AM and a greater body heat gain from the sun in AM compared with PM.

Thermal strain is greater in the late afternoon than morning during exercise in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on a clear summer day.

Introduction: There are no reports examining the time-of-day effect on team training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on thermal strain in the summer heat. We investigated this effect during badminton training sessions on a clear summer day. Methods: Nine male high school badminton players (Mean ± SD; age 17.1 ± 0.6 y, height 171 ± 4 cm, body mass 59 ± 7 kg) completed two 2.5-h badminton training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning. The training sessions were started at 0900 h (AM) and 1600 h (PM) on separate days in August. Skin temperatures (chest, triceps, thigh, calf), infrared tympanic temperature, heart rate, thermal sensation and rating of perceived exertion were recorded at rest and at regular intervals during the sessions. Results: Indoor and outdoor environmental heat stress progressively increased in AM and decreased in PM during the sessions. Ambient temperature (AM 30.1 ± 0.9°C; PM 33.2 ± 1.0°C: P < 0.001) and wet-bulb globe temperature (AM 28.1 ± 0.5°C; PM 30.0 ± 0.9°C: P = 0.001) during the sessions in the gym were higher in PM than AM. Mean skin temperature (AM 34.2 ± 1.0°C; PM 34.7 ± 0.7°C: P < 0.001), infrared tympanic temperature (AM 37.8 ± 0.5°C; PM 38.1 ± 0.4°C: P = 0.001) and thermal sensation (AM 2.7 ± 1.4; PM 3.3 ± 1.0: P < 0.001) during the sessions were higher in PM than AM. Body heat storage (AM 159 ± 30 W·m-2; PM 193 ± 30 W·m-2: P < 0.05) was greater in PM than AM. There were no time-of-day differences in the average heart rate (AM 75 ± 4% age-predicted maximal heart rate; PM 76 ± 5 age-predicted maximal heart rate: P = 0.534), body mass loss (AM 0.6 ± 0.3 kg; PM 0.8 ± 0.2°C: P = 0.079), the volume of water ingested (AM 1.5 ± 0.1 L; PM 1.6 ± 0.3 L: P = 0.447) and rating of perceived exertion (AM 16 ± 2; PM 16 ± 3: P = 0.281). Conclusions: This study indicates greater thermal strain in PM trial than in AM trial during team training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on a clear summer day. Therefore, athletes and coaches of indoor sports should perceive that athletes may be exposed to a greater risk for thermal strain in the late afternoon from 1600 h than in the morning from 0900 h during the sessions in the gym under these conditions.

Greater thermoregulatory strain in the morning than late afternoon during judo training in the heat of summer.

PURPOSE: The time-of-day variations in environmental heat stress have been known to affect thermoregulatory responses and the risk of exertional heat-related illness during outdoor exercise in the heat. However, such effect and risk are still needed to be examined during indoor sports/exercises. The current study investigated the diurnal relationships between thermoregulatory strain and environmental heat stress during regular judo training in a judo training facility without air conditioning on a clear day in the heat of summer. METHODS: Eight male high school judokas completed two 2.5-h indoor judo training sessions. The sessions were commenced at 09:00 h (AM) and 16:00 h (PM) on separate days. RESULTS: During the sessions, indoor and outdoor heat stress progressively increased in AM but decreased in PM, and indoor heat stress was less in AM than PM (mean ambient temperature: AM 32.7±0.4°C; PM 34.4±1.0°C, P<0.01). Mean skin temperature was higher in AM than PM (P<0.05), despite greater dry and evaporative heat losses in AM than PM (P<0.001). Infrared tympanic temperature, heart rate and thermal sensation demonstrated a trial by time interaction (P<0.001) with no differences at any time point between trials, showing relatively higher responses in these variables in PM compared to AM during the early stages of training and in AM compared to PM during the later stages of training. There were no differences between trials in body mass loss and rating of perceived exertion. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a greater thermoregulatory strain in the morning from 09:00 h than the late afternoon from 16:00 h during 2.5-h regular judo training in no air conditioning facility on a clear day in the heat of summer. This observation is associated with a progressive increase in indoor and outdoor heat stress in the morning, despite a less indoor heat stress in the morning than the afternoon.

Diurnal effects of prior heat stress exposure on sprint and endurance exercise capacity in the heat.

Active individuals often perform exercises in the heat following heat stress exposure (HSE) regardless of the time-of-day and its variation in body temperature. However, there is no information concerning the diurnal effects of a rise in body temperature after HSE on subsequent exercise performance in a hot environnment. This study therefore investigated the diurnal effects of prior HSE on both sprint and endurance exercise capacity in the heat. Eight male volunteers completed four trials which included sprint and endurance cycling tests at 30 °C and 50% relative humidity. At first, volunteers completed a 30-min pre-exercise routine (30-PR): a seated rest in a temperate environment in AM (AmR) or PM (PmR) (Rest trials); and a warm water immersion at 40 °C to induce a 1 °C increase in core temperature in AM (AmW) or PM (PmW) (HSE trials). Volunteers subsequently commenced exercise at 0800 h in AmR/AmW and at 1700 h in PmR/PmW. The sprint test determined a 10-sec maximal sprint power at 5 kp. Then, the endurance test was conducted to measure time to exhaustion at 60% peak oxygen uptake. Maximal sprint power was similar between trials (p = 0.787). Time to exhaustion in AmW (mean±SD; 15 ± 8 min) was less than AmR (38 ± 16 min; p < 0.01) and PmR (43 ± 24 min; p < 0.01) but similar with PmW (24 ± 9 min). Core temperature was higher from post 30-PR to 6 min into the endurance test in AmW and PmW than AmR and PmR (p < 0.05) and at post 30-PR and the start of the endurance test in PmR than AmR (p < 0.05). The rate of rise in core temperature during the endurance test was greater in AmR than AmW and PmW (p < 0.05). Mean skin temperature was higher from post 30-PR to 6 min into the endurance test in HSE trials than Rest trials (p < 0.05). Mean body temperature was higher from post 30-PR to 6 min into the endurance test in AmW and PmW than AmR and PmR (p < 0.05) and the start to 6 min into the endurance test in PmR than AmR (p < 0.05). Convective, radiant, dry and evaporative heat losses were greater on HSE trials than on Rest trials (p < 0.001). Heart rate and cutaneous vascular conductance were higher at post 30-PR in HSE trials than Rest trials (p < 0.05). Thermal sensation was higher from post 30-PR to the start of the endurance test in AmW and PmW than AmR and PmR (p < 0.05). Perceived exertion from the start to 6 min into the endurance test was higher in HSE trials than Rest trials (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that an approximately 1 °C increase in core temperature by prior HSE has the diurnal effects on endurance exercise capacity but not on sprint exercise capacity in the heat. Moreover, prior HSE reduces endurance exercise capacity in AM, but not in PM. This reduction is associated with a large difference in pre-exercise core temperature between AM trials which is caused by a relatively lower body temperature in the morning due to the time-of-day variation and contributes to lengthening the attainment of high core temperature during exercise in AmR.

Time-of-day effects of exposure to solar radiation on thermoregulation during outdoor exercise in the heat.

High solar radiation has been recognised as a contributing factor to exertional heat-related illness in individuals exercising outdoors in the heat. Although solar radiation intensity has been known to have similar time-of-day variation as body temperature, the relationship between fluctuations in solar radiation associated with diurnal change in the angle of sunlight and thermoregulatory responses in individuals exercising outdoors in a hot environment remains largely unknown. The present study therefore investigated the time-of-day effects of variations in solar radiation associated with changing solar elevation angle on thermoregulatory responses during moderate-intensity outdoor exercise in the heat of summer. Eight healthy, high school baseball players, heat-acclimatised male volunteers completed a 3-h outdoor baseball trainings under the clear sky in the heat. The trainings were commenced at 0900 h in AM trial and at 1600 h in PM trial each on a separate day. Solar radiation and solar elevation angle during exercise continued to increase in AM (672-1107 W/m2 and 44-69°) and decrease in PM (717-0 W/m2 and 34-0°) and were higher on AM than on PM (both P < 0.001). Although ambient temperature (AM 32-36°C, PM 36-30°C) and wet-bulb globe temperature (AM 31-33°C, PM 34-27°C) also continued to increase in AM and decrease in PM, there were no differences between trials in these (both P > 0.05). Tympanic temperature measured by an infrared tympanic thermometer and mean skin temperature were higher in AM than PM at 120 and 180 min (P < 0.05). Skin temperature was higher in AM than PM at the upper arm and thigh at 120 min (P < 0.05) and at the calf at 120 and 180 min (both P < 0.05). Body heat gain from the sun was greater during exercise in AM than PM (P < 0.0001), at 0-60 min in PM than AM (P < 0.0001) and at 120-180 min in AM than PM (P < 0.0001). Dry heat loss during exercise was greater at 0-60 min (P < 0.0001), and lower at 60-120 min (P < 0.05) and 120-180 min (P < 0.0001) in AM than PM. Evaporative heat loss during exercise was greater in PM than AM at 120-180 min (P < 0.0001). Total (dry + evaporation) heat loss at the skin was greater during exercise in PM than AM (P < 0.0001), at 0-60 min in AM than PM (P < 0.0001) and at 60-120 and 120-180 min in PM than AM (P < 0.05 and 0.0001). Heart rate at 120-150 min was also higher in AM than PM (P < 0.05). Neither perceived thermal sensation nor rating of perceived exertion was different between trials (both P > 0.05). The current study demonstrates a greater thermoregulatory strain in the morning than in the afternoon resulting from a higher body temperature and heart rate in relation to an increase in environmental heat stress with rising solar radiation and solar elevation angle during moderate-intensity outdoor exercise in the heat. This response is associated with a lesser net heat loss at the skin and a greater body heat gain from the sun in the morning compared with the afternoon.

Effects of combined ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) and whey protein ingestion on symptoms of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of combined ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) and whey protein ingestion on muscle strength and damage following a single bout of eccentric exercise. METHODS: Eighteen untrained male subjects were assigned to HMB and Whey protein (HMB + Whey; 3 g/day HMB and 36.6 g/day whey protein, n = 6), HMB (3 g/day, n = 6), or whey protein (36.6 g/day, n = 6) groups. Ingestion commenced 7 days before non-dominant elbow flexor eccentric exercise (30 deg/sec, 6 reps × 7 sets) and continued until 4 days post-exercise. The maximal isometric strength, muscle soreness, plasma creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were assessed pre-exercise, and at 1, 2, 3, and 5 days after exercise. RESULTS: The change scores of maximal isometric strength significantly decreased at day 1, 2, and 5 in the whey protein group compared to pre value and that in HMB + Whey protein and HMB groups decreased at day 1 and 5. The muscle soreness significantly increased in the whey and HMB + Whey protein groups at day 3 compared to pre value (p < 0.05). CK and LDH significantly increased (time effect: p < 0.05) after exercise. However, all data were not significant difference among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ingestion of combined HMB and whey protein does not have a role to inhibit muscle strength loss and soreness, and decrease in muscle damage markers after eccentric exercise in comparison with HMB and whey protein alone.