Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evidence of a greater onset threshold for sweating in females following intense exercise

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We evaluated the hypothesis that females would show a greater postexercise hypotension and concurrently a greater increase in the onset threshold for sweating. Fourteen subjects (7 males and 7 females) of similar age, body composition, and fitness status participated in the study. Esophageal temperature was monitored as an index of core temperature while sweat rate was measured by using a ventilated capsule placed on the upper back. Subjects cycled at either 60% (moderate) or 80% (intense) of peak oxygen consumption \( {\left( {\ifmmode\expandafter\dot\else\expandafter\.\fi{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} } \right)} \) followed by 20-min recovery. Subjects then donned a liquid-conditioned suit used to regulate mean skin temperature. The skin was then heated (∼4.3°C·h−1) until sweating occurred. Esophageal temperatures were similar to baseline before the start of whole body warming for all conditions. The postexercise threshold values for sweating following moderate and intense exercise were an esophageal temperature increase of 0.10 ± 0.02 and 0.22 ± 0.04°C, respectively for males, and 0.15 ± 0.03 and 0.34 ± 0.01°C, respectively for females. All were elevated above baseline resting (P < 0.05) and a significant sex-related difference was observed for sweating threshold values following intense exercise (P < 0.05). This was paralleled by a greater decrease in mean arterial pressure in females at the end of the 20-min recovery (P < 0.05). In conclusion, females demonstrate a greater postexercise onset threshold for sweating, which is paralleled by a greater postexercise hypotensive response following intense exercise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carter R III, Watenpaugh DE, Smith ML (2001) Gender differences in cardiovasculalr regulation during recovery from exercise. J Appl Physiol 91:1902–1907

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carter R III, Wilson TE, Watenpaugh DE, Smith ML, Crandall CG (2002) Effects of mode of exercise recovery on thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses. J Appl Physiol 93:1918–1924

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher M, Paolone V, Rosene J, Drury D, Van Dyke A, Moroney D (1999) The effect of submaximal exercise on recovery hemodynamics and thermoregulation in men and women. Res Q Exerc Sport 70:361–368

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fortney SM, Wenger CB, Bove JR, Nadel ER (1984) Effect of hyperosmolality on control of blood flow and sweating. J Appl Physiol. 57:1688–1695

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frascarolo P, Schutz Y, Jequier E (1992) Influence of the menstrual cycle on the sweating response measured by direct calorimetry in women exposed to warm environmental conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 64:449–454

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Frye AJ, Kamon E (1981) Responses to dry heat of men and women with similar aerobic capacities. J Appl Physiol 50:65–70

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gisolfi C, Robinson S (1970) Central and peripheral stimuli regulating sweating during intermittent work in men. J Appl Physiol 29:761–768

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Halliwill JR (2001) Mechanisms and clinical implications of post-exercise hypotension in humans. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 29:65–70

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Havenith G (2001) Individualized model of human thermoregulation for the simulation of heat stress response. J Appl Physiol 90:1943–1954

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Inoue Y, Tanaka Y, Omori K, Kuwahara T, Ogura Y, Ueda H (2005) Sex- and menstrual cycle-related differences in sweating and cutaneous blood flow in response to passive heat exposure. Eur J Appl Physiol 94:323–332

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jonhson JM and Proppe DW (1996) Cardiovascular adjustments to heat stress. In: Handbook of physiology. environmental physiology. American Physiological Society, Bethesda, pp 215–243

  • Journeay WS, Reardon FD, Jean-Gilles S, Martin CR, Kenny GP (2004a) Lower body positive and negative pressure alter thermal and hemodynamic responses after exercise. Aviat Space Environ Med 75:841–849

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Journeay WS, Reardon FD, Martin CR, Kenny GP (2004b) Control of cutaneous vascular conductance and sweating during recovery from dynamic exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol 96:2207–2212

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Journeay WS, Reardon FD, McInnis NH, Kenny GP (2005) Nonthermoregulatory control of cutaneous vascular conductance and sweating during recovery from dynamic exercise in women. J Appl Physiol 99:1816–1821

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaciuba-Uscilko H, Grucza R (2001) Gender differences in thermoregulation. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 4:533–536

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny GP, Jay O (2007) Sex differences in postexercise esophageal and muscle tissue temperature response. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 292:R1632–R1640

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny GP, Chen AA, Johnston CE, Thoden JS, Giesbrecht GG (1997) Intense exercise increases the post-exercise threshold for sweating. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 76:116–121

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny GP, Periard J, Journeay WS, Sigal RJ, Reardon FD (2003) Effect of exercise intensity on the postexercise sweating threshold. J Appl Physiol 95:2355–2360

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny GP, Jay O, Zaleski W, Reardon ML, Sigal RJ, Journeay WS, Reardon FD (2006a) Postexercise hypotension causes a prolonged perturbation in esophageal and active muscle temperature recovery. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 291:R580–R588

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenny GP, Murrin JE, Journeay WS, Reardon FD (2006b) Differences in the postexercise threshold for cutaneous active vasodilation between men and women. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 290:R172–R179

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kilgour RD, Gariepy P, Rehel R (1993) Cardiovascular responses during recovery from exercise and thermal stress. Aviat Space Environ Med 64:224–229

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mack G, Nishiyasu T, Shi X (1995) Baroreceptor modulation of cutaneous vasodilator and sudomotor responses to thermal stress in humans. J Physiol 483:537–547

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nadel ER, Mitchell JW, Saltin B, Stolwijk JA (1971) Peripheral modifications to the central drive for sweating. J Appl Physiol 31:828–833

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piepoli M, Coats AJ, Adamopoulos S, Bernardi L, Feng YH, Conway J, Sleight P (1993) Persistent peripheral vasodilation and sympathetic activity in hypotension after maximal exercise. J Appl Physiol 75:1807–1814

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piepoli M, Isea JE, Pannarale G, Adamopoulos S, Sleight P, Coats AJ (1994) Load dependence of changes in forearm and peripheral vascular resistance after acute leg exercise in man. J Physiol 478(Pt 2):357–362

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Senitko AN, Charkoudian N, Halliwill JR (2002) Influence of endurance exercise training status and gender on postexercise hypotension. J Appl Physiol 92:2368–2374

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shibasaki M, Kondo N, Crandall CG (2003) Non-thermoregulatory modulation of sweating in humans. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 31:34–39

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shibasaki M, Sakai M, Oda M, Crandall CG (2004) Muscle mechanoreceptor modulation of sweat rate during recovery from moderate exercise. J Appl Physiol 96:2115–2119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson LA, Kolka MA (1993) Thermoregulation in women. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 21:231–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tarnopolsky M (1999) Hormonal differences. In: Gender differences on metabolism, CRC, Boca Raton, pp 1–30

  • Wilson TE, Carter III R, Cutler MJ, Cui J, Smith ML, Crandall CG (2004) Active recovery attenuates the fall in sweat rate but not cutaneous vascular conductance following supine exercise. J Appl Physiol 96:668–673

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Discovery Grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Grant held by Dr. Glen P. Kenny).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Human Bioenergetics and Environmental Physiology, School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, 125 University, Montpetit Hall, Room 367, PO Box 450 Station A, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1N 6N5

    Glen P. Kenny & Ollie Jay

Authors
  1. Glen P. Kenny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ollie Jay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Glen P. Kenny.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kenny, G.P., Jay, O. Evidence of a greater onset threshold for sweating in females following intense exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 101, 487–493 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0525-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-007-0525-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation