ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2009 August;168(4):225-32

Copyright © 2009 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effect of dynamics and timing of thermal response to incremental short lasting physical effort on cognitive functions and cardiopulmonary capacity in athletes

Skalik R., Wozniak W., Janocha A., Standa M., Girek M., Kaminski W., Borodulin-Nadzieja L.

¹ Department of Physiology, Laboratory of Exercise and Cardiovascular Physiology, Cognitive Functions Laboratory, Medical University of Wroclaw, Poland 2 Department of Physiology, Medical University of Wroclaw, Poland

Aim. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of dynamics and timing of change in core body temperature on cardiopulmonary parameters and cognitive functions during short lasting incremental exercise.
Methods. Twenty healthy volunteers (15 runners and 5 American football players) entered the study. All the athletes performed cardiopulmonary exercise test with continuous record of core body temperature. They were also asked to perform cognitive functions tests both before and soon after exercise.
Results. The peak exercise core body temperature (peakTc) was significantly higher as compared with its baseline value in all the examined athletes. The examined athletes were divided into two subgroups: A (14 persons with highest V.O2max who achieved their gas exchange threshold at 90% of the predHRmax; V.O2max above 55 ml/kg/min), B (6 persons with lower V.O2max who achieved their gas exchange threshold at 80 % of the predHRmax; V.O2max below 55 ml/kg/min). The peakTc in athletes with highest V.O2max (subgroup A) was significantly lower (37.3±0.02 °C) and appeared earlier as compared with subgroup B (37.8±0.03 °C). The mean postexercise reaction time was significantly shorter in all examined athletes as compared with the baseline value . The post exercise reaction times were significantly shorter in the subgroup A as compared with the subgroup B.
Conclusion. The magnitude, dynamics and timing of increase in core body temperature during short lasting physical effort seems to modify cognitive performance and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in athletes.