Abstract
Multiple training sessions in a hot environment (i.e. heat acclimation [HA]) elicit beneficial perceptual adaptations that prepare an individual for future heat stress. However, it remains unclear if high-level male and female endurance athletes respond differently in the magnitude of perceptual adaptation. PURPOSE: Investigate sex-specific responses in perceptual measures following HA compared to training in temperate conditions. METHODS: 18 highly trained endurance runners (males: n = 8, age: 21 ± 3 years, body mass: 74.3 ± 11.3 kg, maximal oxygen uptake [VO2peak]: 66.5 ± 11.0 mL∙kg-1∙min-1; females: n = 10, age: 24 ± 7 years, body mass: 63.4 ± 7.2 kg, maximal oxygen uptake [VO2peak]: 55.9 ± 5.9 mL∙kg-1∙min-1) completed this study in a randomized, counterbalanced order. Participants performed 7 days of 60 min running at 50% velocity VO2peak in the heat (HEAT) (40 °C, 35 % relative humidity [RH]) or temperate (TEMP) (22 °C, 35 % RH) environment. On days 1 and 7, participants completed an environmental symptoms questionnaire (ESQ) prior to and immediately following exercise. ESQ was quantified as a summation of 14 symptoms, along with each variable being analyzed independently. Linear mixed effects models with Tukey post hoc analyses were performed to examine sex differences across HEAT and TEMP interventions. Participants were categorized as the random effect, and sex, environmental condition, and time (pre vs post) were classified as fixed effects. Data are presented as estimated marginal means and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: No significant differences in pre-ESQ symptoms occurred across interventions or sex on day 1 or day 7 (p > 0.05). The summation of all ESQ symptoms was significantly higher post-exercise in HEAT compared to TEMP (HEAT: 32 [29, 34]; TEMP: 20 [18, 22]; p < 0.001), regardless of sex and day. However, there were no significant differences from day 1 to day 7 in HEAT or TEMP (p > 0.05). The independent symptom of ‘I feel hot’ was the only variable that demonstrated adaptation. Specifically, HEAT day 7 post-exercise (3.5 [3.1, 3.9]) exhibited reduced values compared to day 1 post-exercise (4.7 [4.3, 5.1]; p < 0.001); however, this was not observed in TEMP (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Following HEAT, there were no observed sex differences in perceptual adaptations. Regardless of sex, the sensation of ‘I feel hot’ reduced post-exercise on day 7 compared to day 1, demonstrating a positive perceptual HA-adaptation.
Recommended Citation
Roberts, Rachel R.; Keefe, Marcos S.; Hernandez, Mario I.; Dunn, Ryan A.; and Sekiguchi, Yasuki
(2026)
"Sex-Specific Perceptual Adaptations to Heat Acclimation in Highly Trained Endurance Runners,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 2:
Iss.
18, Article 72.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol2/iss18/72