Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative review
Due to the lack of research in real-world sports competitions, the International Olympic Committee, in 2012, called for data characterising athletes’ sport and event-specific thermal profiles. Studies clearly demonstrate that elite athletes often attain a core body temperature (Tc) ≥ 40°C without he...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Termedia Publishing House
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Biology of Sport |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.termedia.pl/Core-body-temperature-responses-during-competitive-sporting-events-a-narrative-review,78,50091,1,1.html |
| _version_ | 1797435263957336064 |
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| author | Gurpreet Singh Kyle Bennett Lee Taylor Christopher Stevens |
| author_facet | Gurpreet Singh Kyle Bennett Lee Taylor Christopher Stevens |
| author_sort | Gurpreet Singh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to the lack of research in real-world sports competitions, the International Olympic Committee, in 2012, called for data characterising athletes’ sport and event-specific thermal profiles. Studies clearly demonstrate that elite athletes often attain a core body temperature (Tc) ≥ 40°C without heat-related medical issues during competition. However, practitioners, researchers and ethical review boards continue to cite a Tc ≥ 40°C (and lower) as a threshold where athlete health is impacted (an assumption from laboratory studies). Therefore, this narrative review aims to: (i) summarise and review published data on Tc responses during competitive sport and identify key considerations for practitioners; (ii) establish the incidence of athletes experiencing a Tc ≥ 40°C in competitive sport alongside the incidence of heat illness/heat stroke (EHI/EHS) symptoms; and (iii) discuss the evolution of Tc measurement during competition. The Tc response is primarily based on the physical demands of the sport, environmental conditions, competitive level, and athlete disability. In the reviewed research, 11.9% of athletes presented a Tc ≥ 40°C, with only 2.8% of these experiencing EHI/EHS symptoms, whilst a high Tc ≥ 40°C (n = 172; Tc range 40–41.5°C) occurred across a range of sports and environmental conditions (including some temperate environments). Endurance athletes experienced a Tc ≥ 40°C more than intermittent athletes, but EHI/EHS was similar. This review demonstrates that a Tc ≥ 40°C is not a consistently meaningful risk factor of EHI/EHS symptomology in this sample; therefore, Tc monitoring alongside secondary measures (i.e. general cognitive disturbance and gait disruption) should be incorporated to reduce heat-related injuries during competition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:45:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9a43d27f02684a398641f3fb1489d976 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0860-021X 2083-1862 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:45:40Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Termedia Publishing House |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology of Sport |
| spelling | doaj.art-9a43d27f02684a398641f3fb1489d9762023-12-01T10:45:23ZengTermedia Publishing HouseBiology of Sport0860-021X2083-18622023-03-014041003101710.5114/biolsport.2023.12484250091Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative reviewGurpreet SinghKyle BennettLee TaylorChristopher StevensDue to the lack of research in real-world sports competitions, the International Olympic Committee, in 2012, called for data characterising athletes’ sport and event-specific thermal profiles. Studies clearly demonstrate that elite athletes often attain a core body temperature (Tc) ≥ 40°C without heat-related medical issues during competition. However, practitioners, researchers and ethical review boards continue to cite a Tc ≥ 40°C (and lower) as a threshold where athlete health is impacted (an assumption from laboratory studies). Therefore, this narrative review aims to: (i) summarise and review published data on Tc responses during competitive sport and identify key considerations for practitioners; (ii) establish the incidence of athletes experiencing a Tc ≥ 40°C in competitive sport alongside the incidence of heat illness/heat stroke (EHI/EHS) symptoms; and (iii) discuss the evolution of Tc measurement during competition. The Tc response is primarily based on the physical demands of the sport, environmental conditions, competitive level, and athlete disability. In the reviewed research, 11.9% of athletes presented a Tc ≥ 40°C, with only 2.8% of these experiencing EHI/EHS symptoms, whilst a high Tc ≥ 40°C (n = 172; Tc range 40–41.5°C) occurred across a range of sports and environmental conditions (including some temperate environments). Endurance athletes experienced a Tc ≥ 40°C more than intermittent athletes, but EHI/EHS was similar. This review demonstrates that a Tc ≥ 40°C is not a consistently meaningful risk factor of EHI/EHS symptomology in this sample; therefore, Tc monitoring alongside secondary measures (i.e. general cognitive disturbance and gait disruption) should be incorporated to reduce heat-related injuries during competition.https://www.termedia.pl/Core-body-temperature-responses-during-competitive-sporting-events-a-narrative-review,78,50091,1,1.htmlhyperthermia physiology thermoregulation exertional heat illness core body temperature |
| spellingShingle | Gurpreet Singh Kyle Bennett Lee Taylor Christopher Stevens Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative review Biology of Sport hyperthermia physiology thermoregulation exertional heat illness core body temperature |
| title | Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative review |
| title_full | Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative review |
| title_fullStr | Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative review |
| title_short | Core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events: a narrative review |
| title_sort | core body temperature responses during competitive sporting events a narrative review |
| topic | hyperthermia physiology thermoregulation exertional heat illness core body temperature |
| url | https://www.termedia.pl/Core-body-temperature-responses-during-competitive-sporting-events-a-narrative-review,78,50091,1,1.html |
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