title: Consensus recommendations on training and competing in the heat.
abstract: Exercising in the heat induces thermoregulatory and other physiological strain that can lead to impairments in endurance exercise capacity. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide up-to-date recommendations to optimize performance during sporting activities undertaken in hot ambient conditions. The most important intervention one can adopt to reduce physiological strain and optimize performance is to heat acclimatize. Heat acclimatization should comprise repeated exercise-heat exposures over 1-2 weeks. In addition, athletes should initiate competition and training in a euhydrated state and minimize dehydration during exercise. Following the development of commercial cooling systems (e.g., cooling vest), athletes can implement cooling strategies to facilitate heat loss or increase heat storage capacity before training or competing in the heat. Moreover, event organizers should plan for large shaded areas, along with cooling and rehydration facilities, and schedule events in accordance with minimizing the health risks of athletes, especially in mass participation events and during the first hot days of the year. Following the recent examples of the 2008 Olympics and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, sport governing bodies should consider allowing additional (or longer) recovery periods between and during events for hydration and body cooling opportunities when competitions are held in the heat.
authors.affiliation: Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Aspetar, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Racinais
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Coutts
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Flouris
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: González-Alonso
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hausswirth
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jay
authors.forename: J K W
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Nassis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nybo
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Pluim
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roelands
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sawka
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wingo
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Périard
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000502:physiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D003681:Dehydration / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Temperature; acclimation; acclimatization; cold water immersion; cooling; dehydration; exercise; heat exhaustion; hydration; performance; thermoregulation; wet bulb globe temperature