Conditioning versus exercise in heat as methods for acclimatizing 8- to 10-yr-old boys to dry heat

Abstract

Two heat-acclimatization protocols were studied in 8- to 10-yr-old boys: exercise in dry heat (WH, n = 9) and exercise in neutral climate (W, n = 9). Five 90-min acclimatization sessions were conducted within a 12-day period. Base-line (BL) and criterion (CT) tests sessions were held at 43 degrees C db and 24 degrees C wb, with three 20-min exercise bouts at approximately 40 Ws. With acclimatization, the WH group showed a significant reduction in heart rate (HR) (11.4 beat x min-1), mean skin temperature (0.64 degrees C), and an increase in the population density of heat-activated sweat glands (HASG) (25.2 glands x cm-2). The W group showed a significant reduction in HR (13.4 beat x min-1) and rectal temperature (0.24 C). Total sweat rate per body surface area did not increase significantly in either group. However, the sweat rate relative to rise in core temperature increased in both groups. No significant differences were found between the two acclimatization procedures in any of the variables studies except for the HASG, which showed a greater increase in the WH group. It is suggested that in 8- to 10-yr-old boys physiological changes compatible with heat acclimatization could be achieved either by exercise in heat or by mere physical conditioning (approximately 65% of VO2max), in neutral climate. It is postulated that age-related factors associated with the thermoregulatory system prevent children from deriving full effectiveness of exercise-in-heat acclimatization protocol as used in this study.