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Acute heat exposure increases high-intensity performance during sprint cycle exercise

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute heat exposure at thermal balance on high-intensity performance during sprint cycle exercise. Nine healthy male subjects were tested in three different, well-controlled environments in an environmental chamber: T (22°C, 65% RH), H1 (30°C, 55% RH) and H2 (35°C, 62% RH), each test being carried out on a different day following a randomized sequence. After 30 min of exposure to the set environment, subjects performed the 30-s sprint cycle exercise. Heart rate, rectal and skin temperatures were measured prior to exercise, at rest, before and after environmental exposure, and after exercise. There were no differences in subjects’ core temperature or heart rate prior to exercise. However, skin temperature was significantly higher in hot trials compared with the control throughout the experimental session (P < 0.05). Peak power was significantly higher in the hot environments compared with the control. Mean power was higher only in H2 compared with T (P < 0.05). This difference in power output was the consequence of a faster pedaling cadence in the hot trials (P < 0.05). Plasma ammonia was higher in the hot trials versus control at 4 min post-sprint. No differences in blood lactate levels at 3 min post-sprint were observed between tests. The results of this study suggest that the exposure to hot environment caused an improvement in power output for a single 30-s sprint. This increase in power output was associated with an elevation in plasma ammonia suggestive of an increase in adenine nucleotide loss.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to CNPq, CAPES, and FAPEMIG for financial support. We record our gratitude to Maria Aparecida Vasconcelos Faria for her technical assistance. We also thank Dr. Leszek Szmuchrowski who kindly allowed us to use the cycle ergometer as well as the computer with MEC model software.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, Department of Physical Education, School of Physical Education, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, Federal University of Minas Gerais, AV. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Ana Cristina R. Lacerda, Fernando Gripp, Luiz Oswaldo C. Rodrigues, Emerson Silami-Garcia & Luciano S. Prado

  2. Laboratory of Endocrinology, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 31270-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Ana Cristina R. Lacerda & Cândido C. Coimbra

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  1. Ana Cristina R. Lacerda
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  2. Fernando Gripp
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  3. Luiz Oswaldo C. Rodrigues
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  4. Emerson Silami-Garcia
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  5. Cândido C. Coimbra
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  6. Luciano S. Prado
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Correspondence to Luciano S. Prado.

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Lacerda, A.C.R., Gripp, F., Rodrigues, L.O.C. et al. Acute heat exposure increases high-intensity performance during sprint cycle exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 99, 87–93 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0329-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0329-z

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