The Effect Of Post-exercise, Warm Water Immersion On Wingate Anaerobic Power Test Performance

Heat is a notable environmental stressor to human physiology. Both heat acclimation and acclimatization strategies have been shown to lead to physiological adaptations that improve tolerance, safety and exercise performance under hot conditions. The effect of the adaptive response to heat on exercise performance in cooler conditions has not been as extensively investigated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a short-term (two day) passive, post-exercise heat acclimation (HA) protocol on anaerobic performance in college students. METHODS: 28 participants (Age: 22.3 ± 2.1 yrs, Height: 168 ± 9.1 cm, Weight: 71.5 ± 16.6 kg) volunteered and provided informed consent for participation. The participants were randomly divided into either the hot water immersion (HWI) or control (CON) group. Both groups followed a consecutive two-day protocol, consisting of 25-minutes of cycling @ 50-60% HRR, followed by a 25-minute hot water immersion (HWI) or nothing (CON). All participants performed a 30-second Wingate Anaerobic Power Test (WAPT) on four separate occasions: familiarization, pre-intervention, immediate post-intervention, and 24 hours post-intervention. Peak power (W), relative peak power (W/kg), mean power (W), fatigue index (%), and total work (kJ) were recorded. A (day X group) Factorial ANOVA (p < .05) was applied to the data. RESULTS: No significant main effects or Day X Group interaction was evident (p > .05). - Pre N PP (W) RPP (W/kg) MP (W) FI (%) TW (kJ) HWI 14 627.6 ± 121.1 9.6 ± 1.8 466.8 ± 80.2 44.8 ± 8.2 13.9 ± 2.4 C 14 677.3 ± 259 9.3 ± 2.4 503.9 ± 171 45.1 ± 12.9 15 ± 5.1 Immediate Post HWI 14 655.3 ± 156.4 9.7 ± 2.7 472.5 ± 95 48.8 ± 11.3 14.1 ± 2.9 C 14 697.7 ± 306.3 9.6 ± 3 496.6 ± 182.4 50.9 ± 14.3 14.81 ± 5.4 24 hr Post HWI 14 655.3 ± 166 9.8 ± 2.5 463.5 ± 105 45.46 ± 13.6 13.8 ± 3.1 C 14 697.7 ± 288.6 9.5 ± 2.6 501.9 ± 182.8 47.77 ± 10.5 15 ± 5.5 CONCLUSION: A two day passive HA protocol utilizing HWI had no significant effect on measures of short term anaerobic performance in recreationally active college students.