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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.
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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 615 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 18 Jul 2024 |
| Event | FEPSAC Congress 2024: Performance under Pressure in Sports, Military/Police, Performing Arts, Medicine, Business and Daily Life: FEPSAC Congress - Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria Duration: 15 Jul 2024 → 19 Jul 2024 https://fepsac2024.eu/ |
Conference
| Conference | FEPSAC Congress 2024: Performance under Pressure in Sports, Military/Police, Performing Arts, Medicine, Business and Daily Life |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Austria |
| City | Innsbruck |
| Period | 15/07/24 → 19/07/24 |
| Internet address |
Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012
- 501 Psychology
Projects
- 1 Active
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TexSense: TexSense - Integration textiler Sensorik in Arbeits- und Sportbekleidung
Finkenzeller, T. (Principal Investigator) & Schwameder, H. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/21 → 30/04/25
Project: Research