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Repeated muscle damage blunts the increase in heat strain during subsequent exercise heat stress

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Abstract

Purpose

Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) has recently been shown to increase heat strain during exercise heat stress (HS), and represents a risk factor for exertional heat illness (EHI). We hypothesised that a repeated bout of EIMD blunts the increase in rectal temperature (T re) during subsequent endurance exercise in the heat.

Methods

Sixteen non-heat-acclimated males were randomly allocated to EIMD (n = 9) or control (CON, n = 7). EIMD performed a downhill running treatment at −10 % gradient for 60 min at 65 % \(\mathop V\limits^{.}\)O2max in 20 °C, 40 % RH. CON participants performed the same treatment but at +1 % gradient. Following treatment, participants rested for 30 min, then performed HS (+1 % gradient running for 40 min at 65 % \(\mathop V\limits^{.}\)O2max in 33 °C, 50 % RH) during which thermoregulatory measures were assessed. Both groups repeated the treatment and subsequent HS 14 days later. Isometric quadriceps strength was assessed at baseline, and 48 h post-treatment.

Results

The decrease in leg strength 48 h post-EIMD trial 1 (−7.5 %) was absent 48 h post-EIMD trial 2 (+2.9 %) demonstrating a repeated bout effect. Final T re during HS was lower following EIMD trial 2 (39.25 ± 0.47 °C) compared with EIMD trial 1 (39.59 ± 0.49 °C, P < 0.01), with CON showing no difference. Thermal sensation and the T re threshold for sweating onset were also lower during HS on EIMD trial 2.

Conclusion

The repeated bout effect blunted the increase in heat strain during HS conducted after EIMD. Incorporating a muscle-damaging bout into training could be a strategy to reduce the risk of EHI and improve endurance performance in individuals undertaking heavy exercise with an eccentric component in the heat.

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Abbreviations

CON:

Control group

eHsp72:

Extracellular heat-shock protein 72

EIMD:

Exercise-induced muscle damage

HR:

Heart rate

HS:

Exercise heat stress test

Hsp:

Heat-shock protein

IL:

Interleukin

M:

Metabolic energy expenditure

NBM:

Nude body mass

RER:

Respiratory exchange ratio

RH:

Relative humidity

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

TNF:

Tumour necrosis factor

T re :

Rectal core temperature

T sk :

Skin temperature

VO2max :

Maximal oxygen uptake

WURSS:

Wisconsin upper respiratory symptom survey

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following people for their valuable assistance with data collection: Robert Blake, Emily Hogarth, Debra Larmett and Mike Urquhart. We are also indebted to the participants for their time and co-operation. This study received no external funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Extremes Research Group, School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, College of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2PZ, UK

    A. Dolci, M. B. Fortes, F. S. Walker, A. Haq, T. Riddle & N. P. Walsh

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  1. A. Dolci
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  2. M. B. Fortes
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  3. F. S. Walker
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  4. A. Haq
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  5. T. Riddle
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  6. N. P. Walsh
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Correspondence to N. P. Walsh.

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Communicated by Narihiko Kondo.

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Dolci, A., Fortes, M.B., Walker, F.S. et al. Repeated muscle damage blunts the increase in heat strain during subsequent exercise heat stress. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 1577–1588 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3143-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3143-7

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