The Effect of Head-to-Head Competition on Behavioural Thermoregulation, Thermophysiological Strain and Performance Durin
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ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
The Effect of Head-to-Head Competition on Behavioural Thermoregulation, Thermophysiological Strain and Performance During Exercise in the Heat Jo Corbett1 • Danny K. White1 • Martin J. Barwood2 • Christopher R. D. Wagstaff1 Michael J. Tipton1 • Terry McMorris1,3 • Joseph T. Costello1
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Ó The Author(s) 2017. This article is an open access publication
Abstract Background It has been suggested that pacing is a thermoregulatory behaviour. We investigated the effect of competition on pacing, performance and thermophysiological strain during exercise in the heat and the psychological factors mediating competition effects. Method Eighteen males (maximum oxygen uptake [VO2max] 3.69 [0.44] L min-1) undertook a preliminary 20-km cool (wet-bulb globe temperature [WBGT] 12 °C) cycling time trial (TT) and three experimental 20-km trials (balanced order): (i) cool TT (CoolSolo); (ii) hot (WBGT 26 °C) TT (HotSolo); (iii) hot head-to-head competition (HotH2H). During TTs, an avatar of the participant’s performance was visible. During HotH2H, participants believed they were competing against another participant, but the competitor’s avatar replicated their own preliminary (cool) TT. Results TTs (min:sec [SD]) slowed with increased ambient temperature [CoolSolo 35:31 (2:11) versus HotSolo 36:10 (2:26); p = 0.011]. This effect was negated by competition; performances were not different between HotH2H [35:17 (1:52)] and CoolSolo (p = 0.160) and were quicker
in HotH2H versus HotSolo (p = 0.001). End-exercise rectal temperature, mean body temperature and physiological strain index were (p\0.05) higher in HotH2H than either solo condition. Despite faster performance and greater thermophysiological strain, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal comfort and sensation, and perceptual strain index were not different between HotH2H and HotSolo. The difference in end-exercise rectal temperature between HotH2H and HotSolo was related to preexercise anticipatory heart rate response (r = 0.608, p = 0.010) and participants’ propensity for deliberate risktaking (B = 0.12, p\0.001), whereas self-reported resilience predicted change in performance times between HotH2H versus HotSolo (B = - 9.40, p = 0.010). Conclusion Competition changes the relationship between perceived and actual thermophysiological state, altering behavioural thermoregulation and increasing thermophysiological strain; this could increase heat-illness risk. Psychophysiological and psychological measures may identify susceptible individuals.
& Jo Corbett [email protected] 1
Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Spinnaker Building, Cambridge Road, Portsmouth PO1 2ER, UK
2
Department of Sport, Health and Nutrition, Leeds Trinity University, Brownberrie Lane, Horsforth LS18 5HD, UK
3
Institute of Sport, University of Chichester, College Lane, Chichester PO19 9PE, UK
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Key Points During solo exercise in the heat, participants alter their pacing relative t
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