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Effect of Aging and Aerobic Fitness Level on Heat Dissipation

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Risk of Heat Stress
Interventions
Behavioral: Shuttle run test
Registration Number
NCT04241900
Lead Sponsor
Petros Dinas
Brief Summary

In the context of global aging, the health risk factors associated with exercising or working in the heat for aging population are exacerbated by the rising in global surface temperatures. The purpose of this investigation is to determine at what age the heat loss decrements occur and to examine if aerobic fitness level can affect the heat loss capacity in neutral environmental conditions.

Detailed Description

All trials were conducted to indoor gyms with the same environmental temperature and relative humidity, 26 - 30oC and 40-50% respectively, to ensure no difference in body temperature were due to the external thermal stress. The participants were instructed to refrain from intense exercise as well as alcohol and caffeine consumption for 24 hours prior to experimental trial and to had a light meal 2h before their arrival.

Upon arrival, participants would have to wear running shoes, light and short running shorts and light cotton socks. Participants received comprehensive instructions about the shuttle run test and the whole process of measurements. Firstly participants answered the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Thereafter, anthropometrics data (weight and height) were evaluated as well as the body temperature in external ear canal and axillary. All participants followed five minutes warming up and then performed to 20 m shuttle run test until their volitional limit. Once the participants could no longer run, the test was over and the number of laps was recorded. After the end of the shuttle run, were evaluated the body temperature and the weight of each participants. No fluids consumptions were permitted until the second weighing. They were weighed twice, at baseline and at the end of the running test with a precision weight scale (Kern DE 150K2D, KERN \& SOHN GmbH, Balingen, Germany).

Environmental data including air temperature and relative humidity were measured continuously using a portable weather station (LCD Digital Temperature \& Humidity Meter HTC-1). The weather station was placed 1 meter above the ground according to the manufacturer's guidelines.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
431
Inclusion Criteria
  • Healthy children and adults
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosed chronic medical condition;
  • Symptoms of acute illness;
  • Recent (past 4 weeks) usage of medications known to affect the circulatory system, the thyroid, the pituitary function, or the metabolic status

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Shuttle run testShuttle run testAt the shuttle run test, participants were required to run between two lines 20 meters apart, while keeping pace with audio signals emitted from a pre-recorded CD. The frequency of the sound signals increases in such way that running speed was increased by 0.5 km h-1 each minute from the starting speed 8.5 km h-1.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change from baseline axillary temperatureChange from baseline to the end of study completion (a shuttle run test), an average of 15 minutes

Axillary temperature was recorded twice, at baseline and at the end of the shuttle run test, using the electronic digital thermometer (EcoTemp, OMRON, Japan)

Change from baseline body weightChange from baseline to the end of study completion (a shuttle run test), an average of 15 minutes

Weight was recorded twice, at baseline and at the end of the shuttle run test, using a precision weight scale (Kern DE 150K2D, KERN \& SOHN GmbH, Balingen, Germany

Aerobic fitness levelThrough study completion (a shuttle run test), an average of 15 minutes

Aerobic fitness level was defined by peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). VO2peak was determined by a 20m shuttle run test. The number of the last announced stage and the equivalent maximal speed from participants' performance were used for its VO2peak estimation

Physical activity levelsOnce before the shuttle run test

Physical activity of the subject in a usual week was recorded via International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Scores include steps/day and METs/week, with no lower and upper limit

Change from baseline whole Body Sweat RateChange from baseline to the end of study completion (a shuttle run test), an average of 15 minutes

Whole Body Sweat Rate was determined by the difference of the pre-test and post-test weight of the participants

Change from baseline ear canal temperatureChange from baseline to the end of study completion (a shuttle run test), an average of 15 minutes

Ear canal temperature was recorded twice, at baseline and at the end of the shuttle run test (three times each at the left ear and recorded the mean value), using ear thermometer (IR100, MicrolifeSwitzerland)

Air temperatureUp to 30 minutes, during a one complete shuttle run test

Air temperature was measured continuously using a portable weather station (LCD Digital Temperature \& Humidity Meter HTC-1placed) 1 meter above the ground according to the manufacturer's guidelines

Relative humidityUp to 30 minutes, during a one complete shuttle run test

Relative humidity was measured continuously using a portable weather station (LCD Digital Temperature \& Humidity Meter HTC-1) placed 1 meter above the ground according to the manufacturer's guidelines

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

FAME Lab, Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly

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Tríkala, Thessaly, Greece

Department of Exercise Science, University of Thessaly

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Trikala, Thessaly, Greece

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