Role of Thermal Factors on Aerobic Capacity Improvements with Endurance Training

摘要

The investigation studied the importance of the rise in body temperature duringexercise for aerobic capacity adaptations produced by endurance training. The approach used was to compare training effects produced by subjects exercising in hot (35 deg C) water vs. cold (20 deg C) water. Hot water was used to potentiate, and cold water to blunt, the rise in body temperature during exercise. Eighteen young men trained by cycle-ergometer exercise at 60% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) while immersed to the neck in either hot (HWT, n = 9) or cold (CWT, n = 9) water for 60 min, 5 days/wk, for 8 wk. Before and after training, VO2 max, erythrocyte volume, plasma volume, and vastus lateralis citrate synthase activity were measured.