title: Periodizing heat acclimation in elite Laser sailors preparing for a world championship event in hot conditions.
abstract: Purpose: To examine the retention and re-acclimation responses during a periodized heat acclimation (HA) protocol in elite sailors preparing for the 2013 World Championships in Muscat, Oman (∼27-30°C, 40-60% RH).Methods: Two elite male Laser class sailors completed 5 consecutive days of HA (60 min per day in 35°C, 60% RH). Heat response tests (HRT) were performed on day 1 and 5 of HA, then 1 (decay 1, D1) and 2 (D2) weeks following HA. Participants were then re-acclimated (RA) for 2 days, within the next week, before a final HRT ∼72 h post-RA. Rectal temperature, plasma volume, heart rate, sweat rate, as well as thermal discomfort and rating of perceived exertion were measured during each HRT.Results: Rectal temperature decreased with HA (0.46 ± 0.05°C), while individual responses following D1, D2 and RA varied. Heart rate (14 ± 7 bpm), thermal discomfort (0.6 ± 0.1 AU) and rating of perceived exertion (1.8 ± 0.6 AU) decreased across HA, and adaptations were retained by D2. Plasma volume steadily increased over the decay period (D2 = 8.0 ± 1.3%) and after RA (15.5 ± 1.1%) compared with baseline. RA resulted in further thermoregulatory improvements in each Athlete, although individual adjustments varied.Conclusion: Heat strain was reduced in elite Laser sailors following HA and most thermoregulatory adaptations were retained for 2 weeks afterwards. RA may 'top up' adaptations after 2 weeks of HA decay.
authors.affiliation: Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand; High Performance Sport New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Julia R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Casadio
authors.affiliation: High Performance Sport New Zealand , Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Kilding
authors.affiliation: Victorian Institute of Sport , Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siegel
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago , Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.affiliation: Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand; High Performance Sport New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Paul B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Laursen
keywords: elite; heat; performance; periodization; re-acclimation; sailing