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Rising vs. falling phases of core temperature on endurance exercise capacity in the heat

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Abstract

Purpose

Core temperature (Tc) shows rising (05:00–17:00 h) and falling (17:00–05:00 h) phases. This study examined the time-of-day effects on endurance exercise capacity and heat-loss responses to control Tc in the heat at around the midpoint of the rising and falling phases of Tc.

Methods

Ten male participants completed cycling exercise at 70% peak oxygen uptake until exhaustion in the heat (30 °C, 50% relative humidity). Participants commenced exercise in the late morning at 10:00 h (AM) or evening at 21:00 h (PM).

Results

Time to exhaustion was 28 ± 13% (mean ± SD) longer in PM (49.1 ± 16.3 min) than AM (38.7 ± 14.6 min; P < 0.001). Tc before and during exercise were higher in PM than AM (both P < 0.01) in accordance with the diurnal variation of Tc. The rates of rise in Tc, mean skin temperature, thermal sensation and rating of perceived exertion during exercise were slower in PM than AM (all P < 0.05). Dry and evaporative heat losses and skin blood flow during exercise were greater in PM than AM (all P < 0.05). During 30-min post-exercise recovery, the rates of fall in Tc and skin blood flow were faster and thermal sensation was lower in PM than AM (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study indicates that endurance exercise capacity is greater and heat-loss responses to control Tc during and following exercise in the heat are more effective in the late evening than morning. Moreover, perceived fatigue during exercise and thermal perception during and following exercise are lower in the late evening than morning.

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Abbreviations

HR:

Heart rate

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

SkBF:

Skin blood flow

Ta :

Ambient temperature

Tc :

Core temperature

Tre :

Rectal temperature

Tsk :

Mean skin temperature

VO2peak:

Peak oxygen uptake

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the participants who donated their time and effort to participate in the present study. The authors also thank Kyosuke Nakagawa and Kakeru Okazaki for assistance.

Funding

The present study was not supported by any specific grant.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University, 7-2-1 Kamiono, Himeji, Hyogo, 670-8524, Japan

    Hidenori Otani

  2. Hyogo University of Health Sciences, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

    Mitsuharu Kaya & Akira Tamaki

  3. Kyushu Kyoritsu University, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan

    Heita Goto

Authors
  1. Hidenori Otani
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  2. Mitsuharu Kaya
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  3. Heita Goto
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  4. Akira Tamaki
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Contributions

All authors were involved in the conception of the study. HO, MK and AT collected and analysed the data. All authors were involved in data interpretation, drafting of the manuscript, and approving the fnal version.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hidenori Otani.

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Conflict of interest

All other authors declare no confict of interest in the development and completion of this study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Hyogo University of Health Sciences (REF: 18053) and have therefore been performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki.

Informed consent

Participants were provided with written documentation of the possible risks and benefts related to their participation in this study and signed informed consent was obtained in writing.

Additional information

Communicated by George Havenith.

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Otani, H., Kaya, M., Goto, H. et al. Rising vs. falling phases of core temperature on endurance exercise capacity in the heat. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 481–491 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04292-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04292-6

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