Cold Acclimation and the Effect on Sport Performance
Original Editor - User Name
Top Contributors - Kapil Narale
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In an extreme cold environment, even though behavioural or psychological adaptations may act to maintain a sufficient amount of body heat, it is possible that core or peripheral skin temperature can be decreased to a point where metabolic and physiologic functions are no longer sufficient and damage to skin and other tissues may occur. [1]
Environmental cooling power is not only determined by the ambient wet bulb temperature, but is also influenced by the wind and wet clothing. The wind can produce heat loss through convection, while wet clothing increases heat loss through evaporation. Water temperature and currents, with water activities, can contribute to a cooling effect. Inhalation of cold air can also have negative effects for asthmatic healthy athletes. [1]
Various Conditions[edit | edit source]
Hypothermia and Sport[edit | edit source]
In sporting events like the Winter Olympics, there can be a vast range in cold temperature, ranging from <-5oC and >+5oC. The production of metabolic heat during exercise surpasses the rate of body heat loss in similar and colder environments. In winter sports which involve displacement in a straight line, such as Alpine skiing or snowboarding, factors such as wind and low air-temperature, at high athlete movement speeds, expose the athletes to even apparent colder conditions. However, the production of metabolic heat is quite high during such an activity. In fact, athletes who are participating in events that last around 2 hours, such as Nordic skiing, have a metabolic heat production that is even higher, about 13-18 METS. With this kind of metabolic heat production, the loss of body heat is dissipated, decreasing the chance of suffering experiencing hypothermia during the activity in the respective cold conditions. [1]
When considering open body water temperature in swimming events, even in the summer, there is a minimum lower limit for the water temperature. Body heat loss with water immersion can be much greater than that lost in air of the same temperature, making hypothermia more likely. The lower limit of water temperature is 16oC. If the temperature of the water, 1m below the surface, is below the 16oC limit, such an event will not go ahead. Thermoregulatory modelling helps indicate that open water swimmers, swimming at race speeds, in water ≥16oC, will not experience a significant reduction in body temperatures. However, a group of athletes suggest that the 16oC limit may not be high enough. [1]
The cold water could also be causing an arrhythmogenic effect. When the actions of exposure to cold water, holding your breath, and immersion of your face, can cause increased sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, which could lead to premature ventricular contractions, thus could cause fatal outcomes. [1]
Frostbite and Sport[edit | edit source]
When the skin temperature drops below 0oC, frostbite can occur.
The effect on Sport Performan[edit | edit source]
Resources[edit | edit source]
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References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Bergeron MF, Bahr R, Bartsch P, Bourdon L, Calbet JAL, Carlsen KH, Castagna O, Gonazalez-Alonso J, Lundby C, Maughan RJ, Millet G, Mountjoy M, Racinais S, Rasmussen P, Singh DG, Subudhi AW, Young AJ, Soligard T, Engebretsen L. International Olympic Committee consensus statement on thermoregulatory and altitude challenges for high-level athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2012:46:770-779.
