Core Body Temp and Exercise

Impaired exercise performance

in the heat is associated with
an anticipatory reduction in
skeletal muscle recruitment
Ross Tucker, Laurie Rauch, Yolande X.R. Harley, Timothy
D. Noakes
Exercise in the heat causes central fatigue, associated with reduced
skeletal muscle recruitment during sustained isometric contractions.
A similar mechanism may cause fatigue during prolonged dynamic
exercise in the heat. The aim of this study was to determine whether
centrally regulated skeletal muscle recruitment was altered during
dynamic exercise in hot (35C) compared with cool (15C)
environments. Ten male subjects performed two self-paced, 20-km
cycling time-trials, one at 35C (HOT condition) and one at 15C
(COOL condition). Rectal temperature rose significantly in both
conditions, reaching maximum values at 20 km of 39.20.2C in HOT
and 38.80.1C in COOL (P<0.005 HOT vs. COOL). Core temperatures
at all other distances were not different between conditions. Power
output and integrated electromyographic activity (iEMG) of the
quadriceps muscle began to decrease early in the HOT trial, when
core temperatures, heart rates and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)
were similar in both conditions. iEMG was significantly lower in HOT
than in COOL at 10 and 20 km, while power output was significantly
reduced in the period from 80% to 100% of the trial duration in the
HOT compared with COOL condition. Thus, reduced power output
and iEMG activity during self-paced exercise in the heat occurs

before there is any abnormal increase in rectal temperature, heart

rate or perception of effort. This adaptation appears to form part of
an anticipatory response which adjusts muscle recruitment and
power output to reduce heat production, thereby ensuring that
thermal homeostasis is maintained during exercise in the heat.

Elevations in core and muscle temperature impairs repeated

sprint performance
B. Drust1, P. Rasmussen2, M. Mohr2, B. Nielsen2, L. Nybo2

Abstract
Aim: The present study investigated the effects of hyperthermia on
intermittent exercise and repeated sprint performance.
Methods: Seven men completed 40 min of intermittent cycling comprising of
15 s exercise (306 22 W) and 15 s rest periods (0 W) followed by 5 15 s
maximal sprints on a cycle ergometer in normal (20 C, control) and hot
(40 C, hyperthermia) environments.
Results: Completion of the intermittent protocol in the heat elevated core
and muscle temperatures (39.5 0.2 C; 40.2 0.4 C), heart rate
(178 11 beats min1), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (18 1) and
noradrenaline (38.9 13.2 mol l1) (all P < 0.05). During the first sprint
(n = 6), both peak and mean power output were similar across the
environmental conditions. However, mean power over the last four sprints
declined to a larger extent during hyperthermia compared with the control trial
(P < 0.05). Consequently, average mean power output during the five sprints
was lower in hyperthermia (558.0 146.9 W) compared with control
(617.5 122.6 W; P < 0.05). Power output during the repeated sprints was
reduced by hyperthermia despite an elevated muscle temperature that should
promote sprint performance. Venous plasma potassium concentrations (H;
5.3 0.8 mmol l1 vs. C; 6.3 1.0 mmol l1, P = 0.06) and muscle lactate
levels (H; 76.6 24.3 mmol kg1 dry weight vs. C;
108.8 20.1 mmol kg1 dry weight) were lower following the hyperthermic
sprints compared to control.
Conclusion: Although an elevated muscle temperature is expected to
promote sprint performance, power output during the repeated sprints was
reduced by hyperthermia. The impaired performance does not seem to relate
to the accumulation of recognized metabolic fatigue agents and we, therefore,
suggest that it may relate to the influence of high core temperature on the
function of the central nervous system.

Brain and abdominal temperatures at

fatigue in rats exercising in the heat
Andrea Fuller, Roderick N. Carter, and Duncan Mitchell
We measured brain and abdominal temperatures in eight male
Sprague-Dawley rats (350450 g) exercising voluntarily to a
point of fatigue in two hot environments. Rats exercised, at the
same time of the day, in three different trials, in random order:
rest 23C, exercise 33C; rest 23C, exercise 38C; and rest 38C,
exercise 38C. Running time to fatigue was 29.4 5.9 (SD), 22.1
3.7, and 14.3 2.9 min for the three trials, respectively.
Abdominal temperatures, measured with intraperitoneal
radiotelemeters, at fatigue in the three trials (39.9 0.3, 39.9
0.3, and 39.8 0.3C, respectively) were not significantly
different from each other. Corresponding brain temperatures,
measured with thermocouples in the hypothalamic region (40.2
0.4, 40.2 0.4, and 40.1 0.4C), also did not differ. Our
results are consistent with the concept that there is a critical level
of body temperature beyond which animals will not continue to
exercise voluntarily in the heat. Also, in our study, brain
temperature was higher than abdominal temperature throughout
exercise; that is, selective brain cooling

Hyperthermia and central fatigue

during prolonged exercise in
humans
Lars Nybo and Bodil Nielsen
The present study investigated the effects of hyperthermia on the
contributions of central and peripheral factors to the

development of neuromuscular fatigue. Fourteen men exercised

at 60% maximal oxygen consumption on a cycle ergometer in hot
(40C; hyperthermia) and thermoneutral (18C; control)
environments. In hyperthermia, the core temperature increased
throughout the exercise period and reached a peak value of 40.0
0.1C (mean SE) at exhaustion after 50 3 min of exercise.
In control, core temperature stabilized at 38.0 0.1C, and
exercise was maintained for 1 h without exhausting the subjects.
Immediately after the cycle trials, subjects performed 2 min of
sustained maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) either with the
exercised legs (knee extension) or with a nonexercised muscle
group (handgrip). The degree of voluntary activation during
sustained maximal knee extensions was assessed by
superimposing electrical stimulation (EL) to nervus femoralis.
Voluntary knee extensor force was similar during the first 5 s of
contraction in hyperthermia and control. Thereafter, force
declined in both trials, but the reduction in maximal voluntary
force was more pronounced in the hyperthermic trial, and, from
30 to 120 s, the force was significantly lower in hyperthermia
compared with control. Calculation of the voluntary activation
percentage (MVC/MVC + EL) revealed that the degree of central
activation was significantly lower in hyperthermia (54 7%)
compared with control (82 6%). In contrast, total force of the
knee extensors (MVC + force from EL) was not different in the
two trials. Force development during handgrip contraction
followed the same pattern of response as was observed for the
knee extensors. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that the
ability to generate force during a prolonged MVC is attenuated
with hyperthermia, and the impaired performance is associated
with a reduction in the voluntary activation percentage

Blunting the rise in body

temperature reduces muscle
glycogenolysis during exercise in

humans
MA Febbraio, RJ Snow, CG Stathis, M Hargreaves and MF Carey
To examine the effect of blunting the rise in body temperature
on exercise metabolism, seven endurance-trained men cycled for
40 min at 65% of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2,max) in an
environmental chamber at either 20 degrees C and 20% relative
humidity (RH) (T20) or 3 degrees C and approximately 50% RH
(T3). The trials were conducted in random order at least 1 week
apart. Mean oxygen consumption (VO2) during exercise was not
different when comparing the two trials. In contrast, the mean
respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was lower (P < 0.05) at T20
compared with T3. Heart rate, rectal temperature and plasma
catecholamines were higher (P < 0.05) during exercise at T20
compared with T3, as was post-exercise muscle temperature (P
<

0.01).

Muscle

and

blood

lactate

and

blood

glucose

concentrations were not significantly different when comparing

T20 with T3. Net muscle glycogen utilization was greater (P <
0.05) at T20 compared with T3. These results suggest that
glycogenolysis in contracting skeletal muscle is reduced during
exercise when the rise in body core temperature is attenuated.
These changes in carbohydrate metabolism appear to be
influenced

by

alterations

sympatho-adrenal activity.

in

muscle

temperature

and/or