Impact of Passive and Exercise-Induced Heat Stress on Fatigue, Vitality, and Thermal Perception

Publikation: KonferenzbeitragPosterPeer-reviewed

Abstract

Objectives
Heat stress can accumulate to unmanageable levels during physical activity and passive heat exposure. Protective clothing worn by firefighters accelerates this process. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of heat accumulation during passive heat stress or in conjunction with walking on fatigue, vitality, thermal sensation (TS), and comfort (TC), as well as body core and skin temperature.

Method
A sample of 36 healthy male (age: M=26.94, SD=3.25) underwent a repeated-measures between-groups design with one control group (cg), and two experimental groups (eg1, eg2). In eg1 heat stress was induced by sauna exposure (30min, 60°C; 40% relative humidity) with a subsequent sitting phase, eg2 had after the sauna two additional subsequent walks on a treadmill (à 20min). Eg’s wore protective firefighter clothing. Cg was watching a documentary. Subjective and objective parameters were recorded pre, three times during and post heat exposure.

Results
Significant group (TS: p < .001, TC: p < .001, fatigue: p = .015, vitality: p = .053), time (TS: p < .001, TC: p < .001, fatigue: p < .001, vitality: p = .056) and interaction effects (TS: p < .001, TC: p < .001, fatigue: p < .001) were found. Post hoc tests revealed significant differences between eg1 and eg2 compared to cg (TS: p < .001, TC: p < .001, fatigue: p < .001). Skin temperature showed moderate correlations with TS (r = .68) and fatigue (r = .50).

Conclusion
This study highlights the significance of fatigue, TS, and TC as sensitive indicators of passive and passive plus metabolic heat stress. The moderate correlations observed between skin temperature and fatigue/TS, suggest a substantial role of thermal receptors in the skin to perceive heat stressors. Performing strenuous exercise in hot conditions, firefighters and athletes can benefit from heat awareness training, to identify signs of heat stress. Firefighters and individuals exercising in hot conditions should prioritize their heat perception and train this ability during physical activity in such environments.


OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten615
Seitenumfang1
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 18 Juli 2024
VeranstaltungFEPSAC Congress 2024: Performance under Pressure in Sports, Military/Police, Performing Arts, Medicine, Business and Daily Life: FEPSAC Congress - Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Österreich
Dauer: 15 Juli 202419 Juli 2024
https://fepsac2024.eu/

Konferenz

KonferenzFEPSAC Congress 2024: Performance under Pressure in Sports, Military/Police, Performing Arts, Medicine, Business and Daily Life
Land/GebietÖsterreich
OrtInnsbruck
Zeitraum15/07/2419/07/24
Internetadresse

Schlagwörter

  • Heat stress
  • vitality
  • fatigue
  • thermal sensation
  • thermal comfort

Systematik der Wissenschaftszweige 2012

  • 501 Psychologie

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