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SEHS: Option A: A2 cont’d Environmental factors part II. Describe how an athlete should acclimatize to heat stress. What is acclimatization ?
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SEHS: Option A: A2 cont’d Environmental factors part II
Describe how an athlete should acclimatize to heat stress • What is acclimatization? • It is the process in which an individual organism adjusts to a gradual change in its environment (such as a change in temperature, humidity, photoperiod, or pH), allowing it to maintain performance across a range of environmental conditions. • For heat stressors – • Perform training sessions in similar environmental conditions (heat and humidity) for 5-10 days results in almost total body adjustments (go slow to start though)
Signs of acclimatization to heat during sub-maximal : • Physiological, metabolic and psychological adaptations that occur with heat acclimmatization • Lower heart rate • Lower core temperature • Increased plasma volume • Earlier onset of sweating (at a lower temp) • More dilute sweat (less electrolyte loss) • Reduce rate of muscle glycogen use • Decreased psychological effect of effort
Outline the principle means by which the body maintains core temperature in cold environments • Non-shivering thermogenesis (BAT)
Explain why the body surface area-to-body maintains core temperature in cold environments • Larger individuals/athletes have less surface area compared to volume (lower surface area to volume ratios) than smaller individuals/athletes (higher s.a.: vol)
Outline the importance of wind chill in relation to body heat loss • Wc = a chill factor created by the increase in the rate of heat loss by convection and conduction caused by wind
Explain why swimming in cold water represents a particular challenge to the body’s ability to thermoregulate • Main aspect: thermal conductivity differences between water and air.
Discuss the physiological responses to exercise in the cold • There are three main adaptive responses by which your body regulates its Tc from chronic exposure to a cold environment: • 1. habituation – desesitisation of the normal cold response • 2. metabolic acclimatization – greater shivering response = greater heat production • 3. Insulative acclimatization – increased vasoconstriction = enhanced heat conservation
HOMEWORK • Describe the health risks of exercising in the cold and cold water (frostbite and hypothermia only) • Discuss the precautions (specifically clothing type and the measurable unit called a “clo”_ that should be taken when exercising in the cold.