Comparison of metabolic, temperature, heart rate and ventilatory responses to exercise at extreme ambient temperatures (0 degrees and 35 degrees C.)

Eight male subjects exercised on a bicycle ergometer for one half to one hour at loads demanding 52 to 59% of Vo2max on two separate occasions, once with ambient temperature held at 0 degrees C and once in a 35 degrees C environment. Throughout exercise and during recovery in a 25 degrees C environment, measurements were made of oxygen consumption, ventilation, heart rate, muscle-rectal-skin temperatures, and blood lactic acid. In the hot condition significant increases in heart rate, blood lactates, sweat loss, muscle, rectal and skin temperature responses were observed. At 0 degrees C Vo2 was significantly elevated during exercise over that in the 35 degrees C condition. Despite the elevated Vo2 response in the cold, higher body temperatures measured in the heat were associated with a significantly higher (P less than .025) recovery Vo2 (x = 866 ml), which was of the magnitude predicted by the van't Hoff-Arrhenius relationship.