title: Heat stress and physical capacity: a case study of semi-professional footballers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine heat stress effect on physical capacity of semi-professional footballers in Iran by means of oxygen consumption measurement, heart rate monitoring and WBGT assessment environmental conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study compared two different thermal environmental conditions related to sub-maximal exercise and its effect on human physical capacity. Thirty two male footballers (age 25.9 ± 1.4 year; height 176 ± 2.9 cm and weight 71 ± 9.8 kg) were investigated under four workloads (50,100,150 & 200 W) in two different thermal conditions in the morning (WBGT=21 °C) and afternoon (WBGT=33 °C) in summer. Each test cycle lasted for 10 minutes with a 10 min interval for recovery and rest between every workload. In the end of each stage, the heart rate, blood pressure, skin temperature and oral temperature were measured and recorded. Expired air was collected and its volume was measured using standard Douglas bags. The WBGT index was also used to monitor the stressful heat condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart rate and VO2 consumption findings for different workload showed a significant difference between morning and afternoon (P<0.001). HR and VO2 consumption in both morning and afternoon courses showed a liner relation (r=0.88, r=0.9 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With increasing work load beside heat stress, heart rate and oxygen consumption increased. It is recommended that with Ta>35 °C or WBGT>28 °C, physical activates and performing exercises should be avoided in order to reduce the risk of heat stress-related conditions in athletes.
authors.affiliation: 1. Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Golbabaei
authors.affiliation: 1. Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyyed Abolfazl
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zakerian
authors.affiliation: 2. Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Public health, Ahvaz, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences , Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fouladi Dehaghi
authors.affiliation: 3. Dept. of Environmental Management, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch , Khuzestan- Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibrahimi Ghavamabadi
authors.affiliation: 1. Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Framarz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gharagozlou
authors.affiliation: 1. Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirzaei Aliabadi
authors.affiliation: 1. Dept. of Occupational Health, School of Public health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Rasol
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hematjo
keywords: Football; Heat stress; Physical capacity; WBGT