Title: Heat Acclimatization | Korey Stringer Institute
Headings: Korey Stringer Institute
Korey Stringer Institute
Heat Acclimatization
Heat Acclimatization Guidelines
Heads Up Football Heat and Hydration Guidelines .pdf
References

Content: Heat Acclimatization | Korey Stringer Institute
Korey Stringer Institute
Heat Acclimatization
Heat acclimation or acclimatization plays a large part in the body’s physical responses and overall ability to cope with heat exposure. Heat acclimation is a broad term that can be loosely defined as a complex series of changes or adaptations that occur in response to heat stress in a controlled environment over the course of 7 to 14 days. These adaptations are beneficial to exercise in the heat and allow the body to better cope with heat stress. Heat acclimatization describes the same process, but happens in a natural environment. In either case, the positive adaptations that occur include reductions in: Heart rate
Internal body temperature responses
Skin temperature responses
Sweat electrolyte concentrations
Rating of perceived exertion
As well as increases in: Sweat rate
Sweat onset (sweating starts earlier)
Blood flow
Exercise performance in the heat and cooler conditions
All of these changes improve an athlete’s ability to handle heat stress during exercise. It is also important to note that factors affecting these changes determine the extent to which adaptations occur. For example, acclimation in hot and dry environments has been shown to be different from that in hot and humid environments (a greater sweat rate increase has been seen in the latter case). Acclimation is also known to depend on volume of exercise, intensity, duration and maintenance of an elevated internal body temperature during exercise.