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ABSTRACT: Purpose
This study investigated whether intermittent post-exercise sauna bathing across three-weeks endurance training improves exercise heat tolerance and exercise performance markers in temperate conditions, compared to endurance training alone. The subsidiary aim was to determine whether exercise-heat tolerance would further improve following 7-Weeks post-exercise sauna bathing.Methods
Twenty middle-distance runners (13 female; mean?±?SD, age 20?±?2 years, [Formula: see text]O2max 56.1?±?8.7 ml kg-1 min-1) performed a running heat tolerance test (30-min, 9 km h-1/2% gradient, 40 °C/40%RH; HTT) and temperate (18 °C) exercise tests (maximal aerobic capacity [[Formula: see text]O2max], speed at 4 mmol L-1 blood lactate concentration ([La-]) before (Pre) and following three-weeks (3-Weeks) normal training (CON; n?=?8) or normal training with 28?±?2 min post-exercise sauna bathing (101-108 °C, 5-10%RH) 3?±?1 times per week (SAUNA; n?=?12). Changes from Pre to 3-Weeks were compared between-groups using an analysis of co-variance. Six SAUNA participants continued the intervention for 7 weeks, completing an additional HTT (7-Weeks; data compared using a one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance).Results
During the HTT, SAUNA reduced peak rectal temperature (Trec; -?0.2 °C), skin temperature (-?0.8 °C), and heart rate (-?11 beats min-1) more than CON at 3-Weeks compared to Pre (all p?2max (+?0.27 L-1 min-1; p?=?0.02) and speed at 4 mmol L-1 [La-] (+?0.6 km h-1; p?=?0.01) more than CON at 3-Weeks compared to Pre. Only peak Trec (-?0.1 °C; p?=?0.03 decreased further from 3-Weeks to 7-Weeks in SAUNA (other physiological variables p?>?0.05).Conclusions
Three-weeks post-exercise sauna bathing is an effective and pragmatic method of heat acclimation, and an effective ergogenic aid. Extending the intervention to seven weeks only marginally improved Trec.
SUBMITTER: Kirby NV
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7862510 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
European journal of applied physiology 20201119 2
<h4>Purpose</h4>This study investigated whether intermittent post-exercise sauna bathing across three-weeks endurance training improves exercise heat tolerance and exercise performance markers in temperate conditions, compared to endurance training alone. The subsidiary aim was to determine whether exercise-heat tolerance would further improve following 7-Weeks post-exercise sauna bathing.<h4>Methods</h4>Twenty middle-distance runners (13 female; mean ± SD, age 20 ± 2 years, [Formula: see text]O ...[more]