title: Performance limitation and the role of core temperature when wearing light-weight workwear under moderate thermal conditions.
abstract: The objective of this investigation was to achieve an understanding about the relationship between heat stress and performance limitation when wearing a two-layerfire-resistant light-weight workwear (full-clothed ensemble) compared to an one-layer short sports gear (semi-clothed ensemble) in an exhaustive, stressful situation under moderate thermal condition (25°C). Ten well trained male subjects performed a strenuous walking protocol with both clothing ensembles until exhaustion occurred in a climatic chamber. Wearing workwear reduced the endurance performance by 10% (p=0.007) and the evaporation by 21% (p=0.003), caused a more pronounced rise in core temperature during submaximal walking (0.7±0.3 vs. 1.2±0.4°C; p≤0.001) and from start till exhaustion (1.4±0.3 vs. 1.8±0.5°C; p=0.008), accelerated sweat loss (13±2 vs. 15±3gmin(-1); p=0.007), and led to a significant higher heart rate at the end of cool down (103±6 vs. 111±7bpm; p=0.004). Correlation analysis revealed that core temperature development during submaximal walking and evaporation may play important roles for endurance performance. However, a critical core temperature of 40°C, which is stated to be a crucial factor for central fatigue and performance limitation, was not reached either with the semi-clothed or the full-clothed ensemble (38.3±0.4 vs. 38.4±0.5°C). Additionally, perceived exertion did not increase to a higher extent parallel with the rising core temperature with workwear which would substantiate the critical core temperature theory. In conclusion, increased heat stress led to cardiovascular exercise limitation rather than central fatigue.
authors.affiliation: University Innsbruck, Department of Sport Science, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: ph.kofler@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.affiliation: University Innsbruck, Department of Sport Science, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: martin.burtscher@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burtscher
authors.affiliation: Centre of Technology of Ski and Alpine Sport, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: dieter.heinrich@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.affiliation: University Innsbruck, Department of Sport Science, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: giuliamarta.bottoni@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Giuliamarta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bottoni
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics, Höchster Straße 73, A-6850 Dornbirn, Austria. Electronic address: barnaby.caven@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Barnaby
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caven
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Textile Chemistry and Textile Physics, Höchster Straße 73, A-6850 Dornbirn, Austria. Electronic address: thomas.bechtold@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bechtold
authors.affiliation: University Innsbruck, Department of Sport Science, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: anne.herten@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teresa Herten
authors.affiliation: Centre of Technology of Ski and Alpine Sport, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: michael.hasler@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasler
authors.affiliation: University Innsbruck, Department of Sport Science, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: martin.faulhaber@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faulhaber
authors.affiliation: University Innsbruck, Department of Sport Science, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria; Centre of Technology of Ski and Alpine Sport, Fürstenweg 185, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address: werner.nachbauer@uibk.ac.at.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nachbauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006339:Heart Rate; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D013546:Sweating; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005411:Flame Retardants
keywords: Core temperature; Evaporation; Heat stress; Moderate thermal condition; Short sports gear; Workwear