Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Sports Act. Living, 28 February 2023
Sec. Exercise Physiology
Volume 5 - 2023 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1147845

Thermal strain is greater in the late afternoon than morning during exercise in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on a clear summer day

Hidenori Otani1* Takayuki Goto2 Yuki Kobayashi2 Heita Goto3 Minayuki Shirato4 Yuri Hosokawa5 Ken Tokizawa6 Mitsuharu Kaya7
  • 1Faculty of Health Care Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University, Himeji, Japan
  • 2National Institute of Technology, Akashi College, Akashi, Japan
  • 3Kyushu Kyoritsu University, Kitakyushu, Japan
  • 4Meiji Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
  • 5Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, Tokorozawa, Japan
  • 6National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Kiyose, Japan
  • 7School of Rehabilitation, Hyogo Medical University, Kobe, Japan

Introduction: There are no reports examining the time-of-day effect on team training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on thermal strain in the summer heat. We investigated this effect during badminton training sessions on a clear summer day.

Methods: Nine male high school badminton players (Mean ± SD; age 17.1 ± 0.6 y, height 171 ± 4 cm, body mass 59 ± 7 kg) completed two 2.5-h badminton training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning. The training sessions were started at 0900 h (AM) and 1600 h (PM) on separate days in August. Skin temperatures (chest, triceps, thigh, calf), infrared tympanic temperature, heart rate, thermal sensation and rating of perceived exertion were recorded at rest and at regular intervals during the sessions.

Results: Indoor and outdoor environmental heat stress progressively increased in AM and decreased in PM during the sessions. Ambient temperature (AM 30.1 ± 0.9°C; PM 33.2 ± 1.0°C: P < 0.001) and wet-bulb globe temperature (AM 28.1 ± 0.5°C; PM 30.0 ± 0.9°C: P = 0.001) during the sessions in the gym were higher in PM than AM. Mean skin temperature (AM 34.2 ± 1.0°C; PM 34.7 ± 0.7°C: P < 0.001), infrared tympanic temperature (AM 37.8 ± 0.5°C; PM 38.1 ± 0.4°C: P = 0.001) and thermal sensation (AM 2.7 ± 1.4; PM 3.3 ± 1.0: P < 0.001) during the sessions were higher in PM than AM. Body heat storage (AM 159 ± 30 W·m−2; PM 193 ± 30 W·m−2: P < 0.05) was greater in PM than AM. There were no time-of-day differences in the average heart rate (AM 75 ± 4% age-predicted maximal heart rate; PM 76 ± 5 age-predicted maximal heart rate: P = 0.534), body mass loss (AM 0.6 ± 0.3 kg; PM 0.8 ± 0.2°C: P = 0.079), the volume of water ingested (AM 1.5 ± 0.1 L; PM 1.6 ± 0.3 L: P = 0.447) and rating of perceived exertion (AM 16 ± 2; PM 16 ± 3: P = 0.281).

Conclusions: This study indicates greater thermal strain in PM trial than in AM trial during team training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on a clear summer day. Therefore, athletes and coaches of indoor sports should perceive that athletes may be exposed to a greater risk for thermal strain in the late afternoon from 1600 h than in the morning from 0900 h during the sessions in the gym under these conditions.

Introduction

The greater thermal strain and risk of exertional heat-related illness have been reported in the morning from 0900 h (AM) than in the late afternoon from 1600 h (PM) in high school athletes during outdoor (1, 2) and indoor (3) team training sessions in hot summer environmental conditions under a clear sky. During 3-h baseball (1) and 2-h soccer (2) training sessions, there were higher mean skin temperature (Tsk), infrared tympanic temperature (Tty) and heart rate (HR) in AM than PM trial when no time-of-day differences in ambient temperature (Ta) and wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) were existed. Moreover, during 2.5-h judo training sessions, there was high Tsk in AM than PM trial when higher Ta in PM than AM trial with no time-of-day difference in WBGT was observed (3). These studies therefore concluded a greater thermal strain in AM than PM trial because of an increase in environmental heat stress with increasing solar radiation during AM trial compared with a decrease in environmental heat stress with decreasing solar radiation during PM trial (1, 2, 3). However, since only one study (3) has investigated the time-of-day effect of indoor team training sessions on the risks of thermal strain during exercise, further investigation is warranted.

While many indoor sports are conducted in the gym even in the summer heat, if there is limited airflow and no air conditioning, the risks of thermal strain and exertional heat-related illness may increase (4, 5). This is because airflow during exercise-heat stress can attenuate increases in core temperature (Tc), Tsk and HR and elevate evaporative heat loss (EHL) with increasing air velocity (69). However, high airflow will disturb performance in some indoor sports such as badminton and table tennis. For example, airflow must be restricted in badminton and table tennis to prevent the wind from affecting the shuttlecock and ball flight (10, 11). Athletes of these sports may be therefore exposed to greater heat stress in the summer. In fact, badminton reported the highest number of exertional heat-related illness in Japanese high school indoor-sports athletes (12). The badminton training sessions have also been known to be involved with a lot of intermittent exercise, which could potentially result in greater thermal strain as the metabolic heat production, (M–W) cannot be successfully dissipated into the environment due to limited airflow (13). That said, elevated body temperature does not only have negative effects. It is demonstrated that a 1°C increase in muscle temperature can improve muscle performance during short duration exercise (14). Nevertheless, the diurnal impacts of the badminton training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning in hot environmental conditions on thermal strain in high school athletes have not been examined to our knowledge.

Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the time-of-day influence of the badminton training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on thermal strain in high school athletes in the summer heat. We hypothesised that the thermal strain would be greater in AM than PM trial owing to an increase in indoor environmental heat stress during AM trial, given the results of previous studies (13).

Material and methods

Participants

After approval by the University’s Ethics Committee (REF: 21-02), nine healthy males, who were a member of a high school badminton team [mean ± standard deviation (SD); age 17.1 ± 0.6 year, height 171 ± 4 cm, body mass 59 ± 7 kg, body mass index 20 ± 2 kg·m−2], completed the study. They completed a similar protocol of training in this study in the gym, which had no air-conditioning, for more than 18 weeks (6 days·week−1). The experiments were conducted in August to ensure that participants were naturally acclimated to the heat. Participants and their parents received written information regarding the aim and nature of this study and provided written consent before participation.

Experimental design

Participants performed two 2.5-h regular badminton training sessions in a gym. The gym was a one-story building where the floor space was 800 m2 (40 m  ×  20 m) and the air volume was 8,000 m3 (40 m  ×  20 m  ×  10 m). There were east and west facing windows which were kept close during the sessions. The sessions were started at two different times-of-day: 0900 h (AM trial) and 1600 h (PM trial). The sessions were conducted on a completely clear day at PM trial first in early-August and at AM trial performing 22 days later in late-August. Between the sessions, weekly daily mean ambient temperature in the experimental area was stable and about 28.0°C during both early (PM trial) and late (AM trial) August. A normal training session was completed 2 days before the trials but participants were asked not to perform any strenuous exercise in the 24 h before the experimental trials. Between PM and AM trials, participants trained 6 days·week−1 performing a similar protocol of training in the trials. Participants were clothed in badminton uniform (short-sleeve, crew neck T-shirt; loose-fitting shorts; ankle-length socks; athletic shoes) in both trials. This ensemble was the same as the casual running ensemble and was assumed to be 1.328 kg of total weight, 1.12 of the clothing area factor, 0.063 (m2·°C)·W−1 or 0.405 clo of the intrinsic clothing insulation and 0.01 (m2·kPa)·W−1 of the evaporative resistance of clothing (15).

Experimental protocol

Participants reported to the laboratory after a 3-h fast. They were instructed to drink 500 ml of water until 60 min prior to the start of the trial. Once participants arrived at the laboratory, they first emptied their bladder to measure urine specific gravity (D04–650–0, AS ONE Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) and thereafter nude body mass was determined to the nearest 10 g (AD6205B, A&D Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Euhydration was confirmed upon arrival by a urine specific gravity of ≤1.025. Thermistor probes (ITP082-25, Nikkiso-Therm Co., Ltd., Musashino, Tokyo, Japan) were attached to the skin surface at four locations (chest, triceps, thigh and calf) to determine weighted mean skin temperature (Tsk 16):, and a HR telemetry band (H10 transmitter, Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) was positioned. Gastrointestinal thermometry is a well-accepted device for Tc assessment in the athletics and field settings (17). However, this study employed Tty to estimate Tc because using gastrointestinal thermometry is restricted by pharmaceutical affairs law in Japan. An infrared tympanic thermometer (GeniusTM 2, Covidien, Mansfield, MA, USA) was used to measure Tty. A single operator completed all Tty measurements. Each Tty measurement was obtained two consecutive readings, using the recommended technique (18, 19). A 9-point scale (20) was used to assess thermal sensation (TS). Pre-exercise measurements were conducted in the laboratory in a warm environment (28–29°C).

Participants commenced a 2.5-h training session in a dry badminton uniform and a 4-h fasted state. Participants could freely consume plain water maintained at about 30°C during the sessions. The training session comprised 15 min of warm-up, 11 min of lob shot, 6 min of smash and net shot, 6 min of drive and smash, 22 min of multifeed drills, back player, 15 min of multifeed drills, front player, 20 min of multifeed drills, doubles, 55 min of free game (Figure 1). During the sessions, HR (Polar Team, Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) was recorded every 15 min and Tty, skin temperatures (N543R; Nikkiso-Therm Co., Ltd.) and TS were recorded at 60, 120 and 150 min. At 60, 120 and 150 min, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was assessed using the 6–20 RPE scale (21) to determine whole-body perception of effort. Following the sessions, participants measured nude body mass after removing the probes.

FIGURE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the experimental protocol. (a) Lob shot; (b) Smash and net shot; (c) Drive and smash.

Environmental measurements

Indoor environmental condition was determined 1.5 m above the floor in the gym and outdoor environmental condition was assessed 1.5 m above a dark asphalt pavement close to the gym. A WBGT meter (WBGT-203A; Kyoto Electronics Industry Co., Ltd., Fukuchiyama, Kyoto, Japan) was used every 30 min to evaluate Ta, relative humidity (RH), black globe temperature (Tg) and WBGT. Floor surface temperature was measured using an infrared thermometer (ISK8700II; AS ONE Corp., Osaka, Japan). A pyranometer (MS-01; Eko Instruments Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) was employed every 30 min to assess direct and diffuse solar radiation in the horizontal plane. Solar radiation (global) was obtained as a sum of the direct and diffuse solar radiation.

Calculations

Calculations of Tsk, total sweat loss, age-predicted maximal HR (HRmax), body heat storage (S), M–W, metabolic rate M, heat exchange by radiation (R) and by convection (C), heat loss by evaporation from the skin (Esk), respiratory heat loss by convection and evaporation (Cres + Eres) and absolute humidity are included in Supplementary Material (supplementary material).

Statistical analyses

Statistical significance was accepted at P < 0.05. The normality of the data was checked using Shapiro-Wilk’s test. The homogeneity of variance was tested using Levene’s test. The R (version 4.0.2) was used for analysing non-parametric data (TS). A repeated measures two-way (time-of-day [two levels, i.e., AM and PM]  ×  time [four levels, i.e., 0, 60, 120 and 150 min]) ANOVA was conducted on TS with the R package nparLD (version 2.1) for the LD-F2 design (22). Where a significant interaction was apparent, pair-wise differences were evaluated using the Tukey multiple comparison tests. The IBM SPSS (version 21; IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) was used for analysing parametric data. A repeated measures two-way (time-of-day [two levels, i.e., AM and PM]  ×  time [four to eleven levels, i.e., 0 to 150 min]) ANOVA was performed on data obtained over time, and paired sample t-tests were conducted on single time point data. Pair-wise differences were evaluated using the Tukey multiple comparison test. The independent samples t-test was performed on environmental parameters (AM vs. PM). Cohen’s d (d) was employed as effect size measure; a d of 0.2 to <0.5, ≥0.5 to <0.8 and ≥0.8 represents a small, medium and large effect sizes, respectively (23). Data are expressed as mean ± SD.

Results

Pre-exercise body mass (AM 58.4 ± 6.6 kg, PM 58.1 ± 6.2 kg; P = 0.515; d = 0.04) and urine specific gravity (AM 1.020 ± 0.002, PM 1.021 ± 0.002; P = 0.908; d = 0.50) were not different between trials, but pre-exercise Tsk (d = 2.33), Tty (d = 2.16), HR (d = 2.28) and TS (d = 1.12) were higher (all P < 0.05) on PM than AM trial (Figures 3, 4).

Environmental conditions

In indoor environmental conditions, Ta (d = 3.64), Tg (d = 3.48) and WBGT (d = 2.61) were lower (all P < 0.05) and RH was higher (P < 0.05; d = 3.22) on AM than PM trial (Figures 2A,B). In outdoor environmental conditions, Ta was lower (P < 0.05; d = 4.27) and Tg (d = 2.31), RH (d = 2.37) and solar radiation (d = 3.16) were higher (all P < 0.05) on AM than PM trial (Figures 2C,D).

FIGURE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 2. Time-of-day differences in indoor (A,B) and outdoor (C,D) environmental conditions. Ta, ambient temperature; WBGT, wet-bulb globe temperature; Tg, black globe temperature; RH, relative humidity; AH, absolute humidity; SR, solar radiation. *P < 0.05 denotes a difference between AM and PM trials.

Body fluid balance

There were no differences (all P ≥ 0.05) between trials in body mass loss (d = 0.79), the dehydration level (d = 0.79), total sweat loss (d = 1.00) and the volume of water ingested (d = 0.45) (Table 1).

TABLE 1
www.frontiersin.org

Table 1. Body fluid balance during the sessions.

Body temperature responses

There was a trial by time interaction in Tsk (P < 0.05; Figure 3A) which was higher in PM than AM trial at 0 min (P < 0.05; d = 2.17). A main effect of trial during the sessions was observed for Tsk (P < 0.001) which was higher in PM than AM trial (P < 0.001; d = 0.64). Without 0 min, there was a main effect of trial in Tsk (P < 0.05) which was higher in PM than AM trial (P < 0.05; d = 0.66).

A trial by time interaction was shown for Tty (P < 0.05; Figure 3B) which was higher in PM than AM trial at 0 min (P < 0.05; d = 2.02). There was a main effect of trial during the sessions in Tty (P < 0.001) which was higher in PM than AM trial (P < 0.001; d = 0.57). Without 0 min, a main effect of trial was detected for Tty (P < 0.05) which was higher in PM than AM trial (P < 0.05; d = 0.76).

FIGURE 3
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 3. Time-of-day differences in mean skin temperature (A: Tsk), infrared tympanic temperature (B: Tty) and heart rate (C: HR) during exercise. *P < 0.05 denotes a difference of pre-exercise between AM and PM trials. †P < 0.05 denotes a trial by time interaction between AM and PM trials. ‡P < 0.05 denotes a main effect of trial between AM and PM trials.

Heart rate response

A trial by time interaction was shown for HR (P < 0.05; Figure 3C), but post hoc analysis revealed no difference at the same time point between trials. The average HR during exercise was not different between AM trial (75 ± 4% HRmax) and PM trial (76 ± 5% HRmax: P = 0.534).

Heat balance responses

During the sessions, S (d = 1.14) was greater and Cres + Eres (d = 0.91) was less (both P < 0.05) on PM than AM trial (Table 2). Also, R and C were negative values in both trials and greater on PM than AM trial, indicating that both heat loss by radiation (R: d = 2.50) and by convection (C: d = 5.07) were less (both P < 0.001) on PM than AM trial (Table 2).

TABLE 2
www.frontiersin.org

Table 2. Heat balance during the sessions.

Perceptual responses

There was a trial by time interaction in TS (P < 0.05; Figure 4A) which was higher in PM than AM trial at 0 min (P < 0.01; d = 1.12). A main effect of trial during the sessions was apparent for TS (P < 0.05) which was higher in PM than AM trial (P < 0.05; d = 0.51). Without 0 min, there was a main effect of trial in TS (P < 0.05) which was higher in PM than AM trial (P < 0.05; d = 0.97).

FIGURE 4
www.frontiersin.org

Figure 4. Time-of-day differences in thermal sensation (A: TS) and rating of perceived exertion (B: RPE) during exercise. *P < 0.05 denotes a difference of pre-exercise between AM and PM trials. †P < 0.05 denotes a trial by time interaction between AM and PM trials. ‡P < 0.05 denotes a main effect of trial between AM and PM trials.

There were no trial by time interaction (P = 0.633) and main effect of trial (P = 0.281) during the sessions in RPE (Figure 4B).

Discussion

We investigated to what extent the time-of-day affects thermal strain during 2.5-h badminton training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning in hot summer environmental conditions. Pre-exercise Tsk, Tty and HR were lower in AM than PM trial (Figure 3) which is the common finding in chronobiological studies (2, 3, 2426). These time-of-day effects would provoke an interaction in Tsk, Tty and HR which indicate greater increases in these variables during the sessions in AM than PM trial. Moreover, no difference in the average HR during exercise was apparent between AM (75 ± 4% HRmax) and PM (76 ± 5% HRmax) trials. However, given higher Tsk, Tty and TS and a greater S in PM than AM trial, the present study indicates greater thermal strain during the sessions in PM than AM trial, in contrast to our experimental hypothesis.

In the current study, participants performed exercise in the gym at a high WBGT of 28.1 ± 0.5°C in AM trial and 30.0 ± 0.9°C in PM trial (Figure 2), corresponding to an extreme risk category (≥28°C) for exertional heat-related illness (27). This means that participants in both trials were exposed to greater environmental heat stress. This study shows that indoor environmental heat stress inclines with increasing outdoor environmental heat stress in the morning or declines with decreasing environmental outdoor heat stress in the afternoon (Figure 2). In agreement with the study of Otani et al. (3), these changes led to greater outdoor than indoor environmental heat stress during AM trial and greater indoor than outdoor environmental heat stress during PM trial. This result is in agreement with the common observations of the architectural research concerning the time-of-day effects on the relationships between outdoor and indoor environmental heat stress in a building during the summer heat (28).

The findings of this study are opposite to that of the studies of Otani and colleagues during 3-h baseball (1) and 2-h soccer (2) training sessions in outdoors and 2.5-h judo training sessions in indoors (3) in the summer heat under a clear sky. While no RPE difference between trials in this study was in line with these previous studies, these studies reported higher Tsk, Tty and HR in AM than PM trial with no difference between trials in TS. These studies therefore concluded greater risks of thermal strain in AM than PM trial owing to an increase in environmental heat stress during AM trial compared with a decrease in environmental heat stress during PM trial. We detected high Ta in PM than AM trial (Figure 2) which was consistent with one previous study (3). However, there was high WBGT in PM than AM trial (Figure 2) which was inconsistent with that study (3), albeit there were no Ta and WBGT differences between trials in other previous studies (1, 2). These results imply a greater environmental heat stress difference between AM and PM trials in the present study compared with that of the previous studies (13).

During heat stress exercise, Hori et al. (29) clearly showed higher Tsk, Tc and HR at 35°C than 30°C Ta condition. Moreover, it is well reported higher TS in greater environmental heat stress compared to less environmental heat stress during exercise (30, 31). Lei and colleagues (32) demonstrated that higher Tsk and TS during exercise in a climatic chamber at 35°C Ta and 50% RH than 29°C Ta and 70% RH condition when vapour pressure/absolute humidity was equivalent in both conditions (about 2.8 kPa/ 20 g·m−3). In the current study, Ta and RH during the sessions averaged 30°C and 74% in AM trial and 33°C and 64% in PM trial when absolute humidity was not different between trials (AM 22.5 g·m−3, PM 23.0 g·m−3: P = 0.315: Figure 2). These results indicate that the humidity effect on thermoregulatory responses may be small between trials (32), although Ta was 3°C higher in PM than AM trial. In the heat balance model in the current study (Equation 3 in supplementary material), an individual’s HR, body mass, age, moving velocity and Tsk and environmental variables of Ta, global solar radiation, air pressure, wind speed, floor surface temperature, vapour pressure and relative humidity were used for the calculation. As a result, this 3°C higher Ta resulted in less heat loss by radiation (R; Equation 6 in supplementary material) and by convection (C; Equation 15 in supplementary material) in PM than AM trial. These observations suggest that dry (radiation + convection) heat loss was lower in PM than AM trial. These observations would cause a greater S (Equation 3 in supplementary material) in PM than AM trial in conjunction with no difference between trials in M–W (Equatiosn 4, 5 in supplementary material) and Esk (Equation 19 in supplementary material). Considering the observations of these previous studies (2931) and the results of heat balance model, a 3°C higher Ta would elicit higher Tsk, Tty and TS and a greater S in PM than AM trial. Therefore, greater thermal strain in PM than AM trial may be mainly accompanied by greater environmental heat stress in the gym, involving high Tg and WBGT as well as Ta in PM than AM trial. Meanwhile, Cramer et al. (33) reported that reduction of skin blood flow by 20% did not alter overall heat loss and this potentially indicates that the overall heat storage could only be affected beyond the skin blood flow threshold. Although the current study did not measure skin blood flow, this might influence the results of overall heat loss response during the sessions.

Another possibility of opposite results between the current and previous studies (13) is the absence of airflow. Although there was no airflow in the gym in the present study, previous study settings had natural wind flow of 4.0–13.8 km·h−1 in outdoor studies (1, 2) and an artificial airflow of 2.5 km·h−1 in the indoor study (3). During heat stress exercise, airflow can elevate EHL and attenuate increases in Tsk, Tc HR and with increasing air velocity (69). The absence of airflow in the gym would contribute to low Esk of both trials (Equation 21 in supplementary material) (Table 2) which may highlight a greater S in PM than AM trial in parallel with the results of less heat loss by radiation (R) and by convection (C). Hence, greater environmental heat stress during PM trial may raise thermal strain relative to an increase in environmental heat stress during AM trial when athletes exercise indoors without airflow and air conditioning in the heat. In this study, thus, the absence of airflow in the gym possibly encouraged a rise in thermal strain by the effects of greater environmental heat stress during PM trial rather than an increase in environmental heat stress during AM trial, in contrast to the previous studies (13). It is known that airflow must be restricted when playing badminton and table tennis to prevent the wind from affecting the shuttlecock and ball flight (10, 11). Nevertheless, given the beneficial effect of airflow on increasing EHL during exercise-heat stress (69), fan use is recommended to facilitate this effect during these training sessions in the heat to the extent possible.

The time-of-day effects of lower pre-exercise Tsk, Tty and HR resulted in greater increases in these variables during the sessions in AM than PM trial. During exercise-heat stress, these are known that a faster rate of rise in Tsk (34), Tc (35) and HR (36) causes a reduced endurance performance, owing to an increase in thermoregulatory strain. Also, a faster rate of rise in Tc has been shown to induce a reduced muscle force production (37, 38). Hence, exercise performance in AM trial might be low at the later stages of training, while this study did not measure it. Further study is required to examine these influences on exercise performance during the same experiments as this study.

The current study has some important limitations. The present study was restricted to use Tty to estimate Tc. This is because of difficulty in using rectal temperature for field studies and in using gastrointestinal thermometry for research owing to stringent regulations pertaining to pharmaceutical usage and medical devices in Japan. Previous studies reported that rectal temperature relates to (19) or does not relate to (39) Tty during exercise-heat stress, and therefore the interpretation of Tty data requires caution. However, two studies demonstrated that Tty well correlates with tympanic temperature measured by a contact tympanic thermometer during both lower leg immersion in hot water and cycling exercise in a temperate environment (40) and during cycling exercise in the heat (18). Moreover, AM trial was conducted 22 days after the PM trial date, which may have influenced the training status of the study participants. Therefore, future experiments should employ rectal temperature and conduct the trials in a shorter period to provide a greater validity and reliability in research in terms of preventing exertional heat-related illness in the summer heat.

Conclusions

We conclude that thermal strain is greater in the late afternoon from 1600 h than morning from 0900 h in high school athletes during 2.5-h badminton training sessions in the gym without airflow and air conditioning in the summer heat under a clear sky. This is accompanied by higher Tsk, Tty and TS, and a greater S in PM than AM trial with greater environmental heat stress in the gym in PM trial compared with AM trial. Therefore, athletes and coaches of indoor sports should perceive that athletes may be exposed to a greater risk for thermal strain in the late afternoon from 1600 h than in the morning from 0900 h during the sessions in the gym under these conditions. However, given greater increases in Tsk, Tty and HR during the sessions in AM than PM trial because of time-of-day effects, athletes should also take care of the risks of thermal strain in the morning from 0900 h in such circumstnces.

Data availability statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Himeji Dokkyo University. Written informed consent to participate in this study was provided by the participants' legal guardian/next of kin.

Author contributions

HO and TG conceived and designed research. HO, TG, YK, HG, MS and MK performed experiments. HO and HG analyzed data. All authors interpreted results of experiments. HO drafted manuscript. HO, HG, YH and KT edited and revised manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version

Funding

This study was funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (grant number 19K11513: Hidenori Otani).

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants who donated their time and effort to participate in the present study. The authors also thank Wakaba Hatanaka, Shota Otoshi and Issei Takaoka for assistance.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher's note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Supplementary material

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2023.1147845/full#supplementary-material.

References

1. Otani H, Goto T, Goto H, Shirato M. Time-of-day effects of exposure to solar radiation on thermoregulation during outdoor exercise in the heat. Chronobiol Int. (2017) 34:1224–38. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2017.1358735

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

2. Otani H, Goto T, Goto H, Hosokawa Y, Shirato M. Solar radiation exposure has diurnal effects on thermoregulatory responses during high-intensity exercise in the heat outdoors. J Strength Cond Res. (2019) 33:2608–15. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003260

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

3. Otani H, Goto T, Kobayashi Y, Shirato M, Goto H, Hosokawa Y, et al. Greater thermoregulatory strain in the morning than late afternoon during judo training in the heat of summer. PLoS One. (2020) 15:e0242916. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242916

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

4. Curtis RM, Johnson E, Kovacs M. Individual sports. In: Casa DJ, editors. Sport and physical activity in the heat: Maximizing performance and safety. Cham: Springer (2018). p. 231–56.

5. Maughan R, Shirreffs S. Exercise in the heat: challenges and opportunities. J Sports Sci. (2004) 22:917–27. doi: 10.1080/02640410400005909

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

6. Adams WC, Mack GW, Langhans GW, Nadel ER. Effects of varied air velocity on sweating and evaporative rates during exercise. J Appl Physiol. (1992) 73:2668–74. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1992.73.6.2668

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

7. Otani H, Kaya M, Tamaki A, Watson P, Maughan RJ. Air velocity influences thermoregulation and endurance exercise capacity in the heat. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. (2018) 43:131–8. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0448

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

8. Otani H, Kaya M, Tamaki A, Goto H, Tokizawa K, Maughan RJ. Combined effects of solar radiation and airflow on endurance exercise capacity in the heat. Physiol Behav. (2021) 229:113264. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113264

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

9. Saunders AG, Dugas JP, Tucker R, Lambert MI, Noakes TD. The effects of different air velocities on heat storage and body temperature in humans cycling in a hot, humid environment. Acta Physiol Scand. (2005) 183:241–55. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-201X.2004.01400.x

PubMed Abstract | CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

10. Cohen C, Texier BD, Quéré D, Clanet C. The physics of badminton. New J Phys. (2015) 17:063001. doi: 10.1088/1367-2630/17/6/063001

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

11. Table Tennis England. Outdoor table tennis: advance, guidance and recommendations. Milton Keynes: Table Tennis England (2018).

12. Iwashita G. Risk of heatstroke determined using data on accidents that occurred during club activities at secondary/high schools: relationship between outdoor climate and accidents at schools (part 4). Jpn Archit Rev. (2018) 1:519–27. doi: 10.1002/2475-8876.12048

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

13. Ekblom B, Greenleaf CJ, Greenleaf JE, Hermansen L. Temperature regulation during continuous and intermittent exercise in man. Acta Med Scand. (1971) 81:1–10. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1971.tb04871.x

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

14. Racinais S, Oksa J. Temperature and neuromuscular function. Scand J Med Sci Sports. (2010) 3(Suppl):1–18. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2010.01204.x

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

15. Zuo J, McCullough E. Heat transfer characteristics of sports apparel. J ASTM Int. (2004) 1:1–10.

Google Scholar

16. Ramanathan NL. A new weighting system for mean surface temperature of the human body. J Appl Physiol. (1964) 19:531–3. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1964.19.3.531

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

17. Hosokawa Y, Adams WM, Stearns RL, Casa DJ. Comparison of gastrointestinal and rectal temperatures during recovery after a warm-weather road race. J Athl Train. (2016) 51:382–8. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-51.7.02

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

18. Otani H, Ishigaki T, Kaya M, Tsujita J, Hori S. Comparison of tympanic membrane temperatures measured by contact and noncontact tympanic thermometers during prolonged exercise in the heat. Elsevier Ergonomics Book Series. (2005) 3:21–24. doi: 10.1016/S1572-347X(05)80004-7

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

19. Otani H, Kaya M, Tamaki A, Hosokawa Y, Lee JKW. Solar radiation and the validity of infrared tympanic temperature during exercise in the heat. Int J Biometeorol. (2020) 64:39–45. doi: 10.1007/s00484-019-01791-1

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

20. ISO. Ergonomics of the thermal environment - assessment of the influence of the thermal environment using subjective judgement scales. Geneva: ISO (1995). ISO 10551.

21. Borg GA. Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (1982) 14:377–81.

Google Scholar

22. Noguchi K, Gel YG, Brunner E, Konietschke F. nparLD: an R software package for the nonparametric analysis of longitudinal data in factorial experiments. J Stat Softw. (2012) 50:1–23. doi: 10.18637/jss.v050.i12

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

23. Cohen J. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. 2nd ed. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates (1988).

24. Chtourou H, Aloui A, Hammouda O, Chaouachi A, Chamari K, Souissi N. Effect of static and dynamic stretching on the diurnal variations of jump performance in soccer players. PLoS One. (2013) 8:e70534. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070534

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

25. Edwards BJ, Edwards W, Waterhouse J, Atkinson G, Reilly T. Can cycling performance in an early morning, laboratory-based cycle time-trial be improved by morning exercise the day before? Int J Sports Med. (2005) 26:651–6. doi: 10.1055/s-2004-830439

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

26. Hobson RM, Clapp EL, Watson P, Maughan RJ. Exercise capacity in the heat is greater in the morning than in the evening in man. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (2009) 41:174–80. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181844e63

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

27. Armstrong LE, Casa DJ, Millard-Stafford M, Moran DS, Pyne SW, Roberts WO. American college of sports medicine position stand. Exertional heat illness during training and competition. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (2007) 39:556–72. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31802fa199

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

28. Givoni B. Passive and low energy cooling of buildings. New York: John Wiley & Sons (1994).

29. Hori S, Tsujita J, Tanaka N, Mayuzumi M. Effects of different ambient temperatures on physiological responses during exercise and recovery with special reference to energy requirement. Int J Biometeorol. (1978) 22:33–42. doi: 10.1007/BF01553138

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

30. Périard JD, Racinais S, Knez WL, Herrera CP, Christian RJ, Girard O. Thermal, physiological and perceptual strain mediate alterations in match-play tennis under heat stress. Br J Sports Med. (2014) 48:i32–8. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-093063

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

31. Schlader ZJ, Stannard SR, Mündel T. Evidence for thermoregulatory behavior during self-paced exercise in the heat. J Therm Biol. (2011) 36:390–6. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2011.07.002

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

32. Lei TH, Schlader ZJ, Che Muhamed AM, Zheng H, Stannard SR, Kondo N, et al. Differences in dry-bulb temperature do not influence moderate-duration exercise performance in warm environments when vapor pressure is equivalent. Eur J Appl Physiol. (2020) 120:841–52. doi: 10.1007/s00421-020-04322-8

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

33. Cramer MN, Gagnon D, Crandall CG, Jay O. Does attenuated skin blood flow lower sweat rate and the critical environmental limit for heat balance during severe heat exposure? Exp Physiol. (2017) 102:202–13. doi: 10.1113/EP085915

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

34. Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW, Montain SJ, Sawka MN. Mechanisms of aerobic performance impairment with heat stress and dehydration. J Appl Physiol. (2010) 109:1989–95. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00367.2010

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

35. Gonzalez-Alonso J, Teller C, Andersen SL, Jensen FB, Hyldig T, Nielsen B. Influence of body temperature on the development of fatigue during prolonged exercise in the heat. J Appl Physiol. (1999) 86:1032–9. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1999.86.3.1032

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

36. Wingo JE, Lafrenz AJ, Ganio MS, Edwards GL, Cureton KJ. Cardiovascular drift is related to reduced maximal oxygen uptake during heat stress. Med Sci Sports Exerc. (2005) 37:248–55. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000152731.33450.95

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

37. Nybo L, Nielsen B. Hyperthermia and central fatigue during prolonged exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol. (2001) 91:1055–60. doi: 10.1152/jappl.2001.91.3.1055

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

38. Thomas MM, Cheung SS, Elder GC, Sleivert GG. Voluntary muscle activation is impaired by core temperature rather than local muscle temperature. J Appl Physiol. (2006) 100:1361–9. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00945.2005

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

39. Casa DJ, Becker SM, Ganio MS, Brown CM, Yeargin SW, Roti MW, et al. Validity of devices that assess body temperature during outdoor exercise in the heat. J Athl Train. (2007) 42:333–42.18059987

Google Scholar

40. Shibasaki M, Kondo N, Tominaga H, Aoki K, Hasegawa E, Idota Y, et al. Continuous measurement of tympanic temperature with a new infrared method using an optical fiber. J Appl Physiol. (1998) 85:921–6. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1998.85.3.921

CrossRef Full Text | Google Scholar

Keywords: body temperature, heat-related illness, heat stress, indoor sports, time-of-day

Citation: Otani H, Goto T, Kobayashi Y, Goto H, Shirato M, Hosokawa Y, Tokizawa K and Kaya M (2023) Thermal strain is greater in the late afternoon than morning during exercise in the gym without airflow and air conditioning on a clear summer day. Front. Sports Act. Living 5:1147845. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1147845

Received: 19 January 2023; Accepted: 13 February 2023;
Published: 28 February 2023.

Edited by:

Martin Burtscher, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Reviewed by:

Nimet Haşıl Korkmaz, Bursa Uludağ University, Türkiye
Jeffrey William Frederick Aldous, University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
Tze-Huan Lei, Hubei Normal University, China

© 2023 Otani, Goto, Kobayashi, Goto, Shirato, Hosokawa, Tokizawa and Kaya. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Hidenori Otani hotani@himeji-du.ac.jp

Specialty Section: This article was submitted to Exercise Physiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

Download