Heat Stress in Sport and Exercise (eBook)

Julien Périard is an Associate Professor at the University of Canberra Research Institute for Sport and Exercise. He is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney and former Head of Research Operations for the Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre at Aspetar, Qatar. His scientific expertise lies in the area of environmental physiology, with his research examining the physiological mechanisms that mediate health and performance in adverse environments (heat and altitude). Associate Professor Périard has worked with both amateur and professional athletes from various disciplines, along with National and International Federations and occupational work groups.  Sébastien Racinais is Head of the Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre at Aspetar. He obtained his PhD in Exercise Physiology in the French West Indies in 2004 for his work on the effect of a warm humid environment and the circadian rhythm in core body temperature on muscle function. After lecturing for two years at the French West Indies University, he lectured at the University of Montpellier in France on training adaptations, and conducted research on the neural factors limiting performance. Since joining Aspetar in 2007, Sébastien has developed a research program on the adaptations of the human body to hot ambient conditions and their repercussions on sport performance. He created and runs a Special Interest Group (SIG) of physiologists with a strong interest in environmental physiology. Dr Racinais has also collaborated with various international sports federations on consensus statements on exercising in hot ambient conditions.

Section I -The physiology of heat stress:   1. Basics of thermoregulation -Heat stress and strain -Heat exchange and its determinants (clothing) -Thermoregulation theory (set-point, null zone, thermoeffector coordination)   2. Cardiovascular function in the heat -Acute vascular response – skin, cerebral, muscle and splanchnic blood flow -Acute cardiac response – contractile properties and function, baroreflexes -Acute respiratory response – oxygen affinity and aerobic capacity   3. Central nervous system function in the heat -Central nervous system – Muscle activation, cerebral activity, cognitive function -Perception – perceived exertion, thermal comfort and sensation -Pharmacological intervention and neurotransmission   4. Skeletal muscle function in the heat -Peripheral nervous system – neuromuscular junction -Muscle contractile properties   Section II- Illnesses and countermeasures:   5. Exertional heat illness -Heat illness definition and continuum -Pathophysiology of heat illness -Epidemiology and risk factors -Treatment   6. Hydration -Physiology of dehydration -Dehydration assessment -Impact on performance -Recommendations   7. Cooling -Mechanisms of cooling – External and internal cooling methods, type of event -Pre-cooling -Mid-cooling -Post-exercise cooling -Recommendations   8. Heat acclimation -Physiological adaptations and mechanisms -Effects on performance and health -Time course of adaption and decay -Recommendations   Section III- Application to sport:   9. Football/soccer, AFL and Rugby -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   10. American football -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   11. Tennis -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   12. Athletics – marathon -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   13. Motor sports -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   14. Cycling -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   15. Beach volleyball -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   16. Open water swimming -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation   17. Triathlon -Influence of heat on performance and health -Countermeasures to optimizes performance and health -Heat policy and implementation