Sports and environmental temperature: From warming-up to heating-up

Abstract

Most professional and recreational athletes perform pre-conditioning exercises, often collectively termed a 'warm-up' to prepare for a competitive task. The main objective of warming-up is to induce both temperature and non-temperature related responses to optimize performance. These responses include increasing muscle temperature, initiating metabolic and circulatory adjustments, and preparing psychologically for the upcoming task. However, warming-up in hot and/or humid ambient conditions increases thermal and circulatory strain. As a result, this may precipitate neuromuscular and cardiovascular impairments limiting endurance capacity. Preparations for competing in the heat should include an acclimatization regimen. Athletes should also consider cooling interventions to curtail heat gain during the warm-up and minimize dehydration. Indeed, although it forms an important part of the pre-competition preparation in all environmental conditions, the rise in whole-body temperature should be limited in hot environments. This review provides recommendations on how to build an effective warm-up following a 3 stage RAMP model (Raise, Activate and Mobilize, Potentiate), including general and context specific exercises, along with dynamic flexibility work. In addition, this review provides suggestion to manipulate the warm-up to suit the demands of competition in hot environments, along with other strategies to avoid heating-up.

Clinical Application of Thermography for Energy Balance in Athletes – State of the Art and New Paradigms

“…To proper evaluate the human body thermal behavior it is necessary to take into account these exchanges, and according to ASHRAE [14] and other authors 7,15 , the energy balance can be described according to Equation (1).…”

“…The body temperature has always been considered as an indicator of health. Lavoisier (1743-1794) showed that humans generate heat by a combustion process resulting in the production of carbon dioxide and consumption of oxygen 1 . VO 2 max, running economy, fractional utilization of VO 2 max and lactate threshold are used for health status, evaluation of training intensity and improving the performance of endurance in athletes 2,3 .…”

Effects of cold exposure and exercise intensity on metabolic and thermoregulatory responses

“…Additionally, fat oxidation is observed to be maximal at lower to moderate exercise intensities ranging from 33%-65% VO 2 max. 11,26,27 However, it has been reported that cold exposure during exercise can increase lipid utilization when cold exposure is sufficient to cause a decrease in Tre during exercise. A previous study observed lower RER during 90 minutes of exercise at 65% VO 2 max in 5°C compared to 20°C, with lowered Tre observed during the cold condition.…”

Extreme Terrestrial Environments: Life in Thermal Stress and Hypoxia. A Narrative Review

“…Physical exercise in hot conditions with or without dehydration may also induce hyperthermia. This causes cardiovascular strain which limits exercise performance and may even lead to serious heat associated health conditions ( Crandall and Gonzalez-Alonso, 2010 ; Yankelson et al, 2014 ; Brocherie et al, 2015 ; Racinais et al, 2017 ), which include heat rash, syncope, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke ( Howe and Boden, 2007 ; Brocherie et al, 2015 ; Racinais et al, 2017 ). The responses of subjects exposed to a hot environment will depend on type, duration and intensity of exercise, as well as additional factors (i.e., related to body composition, clothing or other weather independent variables) ( Brocherie et al, 2014 ).…”

“…With respect to exercise performance, a reduction in cardiac output, stroke volume, arterial pressure and blood flow to the brain, skin and exercising muscles have been observed prior to exhaustion ( Crandall and Gonzalez-Alonso, 2010 ; Akerman et al, 2016 ). Hyperthermia may also impair central as well as peripheral neuromuscular function ( Racinais et al, 2017 ).…”