Fluid balance, thermal stress, and post exercise response in women’s Islamic athletic clothing

Abstract

This study examined heat stress, heart rate (HR), fluid balance, micro-environment temperature and humidity with Islamic athletic clothing (IC) compared to traditional soccer uniform (SC). Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), session RPE (S-RPE), comfort, and cooling response were also examined. Female volunteers (N = 8) completed a treadmill $\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}}$ test and then, in a randomized, counter-balanced order, two intermittent running bouts (45 min total) in a hot environment (30.0°C WBGT) in IC and SC. Thereafter, participants sat for 40 min in the hot ambient environment. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significantly greater micro-environment temperature (p = 0.02) (IC 33.3 ± 3.2°C, SC 32.0 ± 2.8°C) and humidity (p = 0.04) (IC 48.4 ± 8.1%, SC 42.9 ± 7.9%) in IC during the exercise trial but no difference in the 40-min recovery period for micro-environment temperature (p = 0.25) or humidity (p = 0.18). No significant difference (p > 0.05) was shown for core temperature (T _rec) (IC 38.3 ± 0.4°C, SC 38.2 ± 0.4°C), HR (IC l54 ± 28 beats min⁻¹, SC 151 ± 26 beats min⁻¹) or RPE (IC 4.7 ± 2.1, SC 3.8 ± 1.7) during the exercise trial or recovery period. Results from a paired t test revealed a significantly greater (p < 0.05) S-RPE (IC 5.8 ± 1.2, SC 4.3 ± 1.9), sweat loss (IC 1.4 ± 0.4 L h⁻¹, SC 1.2 ± 0.4 L h⁻¹) and greater discomfort during the exercise and recovery period for the IC. IC clothing appears to have no detrimental effects on heat storage or heat strain during exercise or recovery.