Thermoregulation in the cold after physical training at different ambient air temperatures

Since human thermoregulation at rest is altered by cold exposure, it was hypothesized that physical training under cold conditions would alter thermoregulation. Three groups (n = 8) of male subjects (mean age 24.3 +/- 0.9 years) were evaluated: group T (interval training at 21 degrees C), group CT (interval training at 1 degrees C), and group C (no training, equivalent exposure to 1 degrees C). Each group was submitted, before and after 4 weeks of interval training (5 d/week), to a cold air test at rest (SCAT) (dry bulb temperature (Tdb) = 1 degrees C) for a 2-h period for evaluation of the thermoregulatory responses. During SCAT, after the training/acclimation period, group T exhibited a higher rectal temperature (Tre) (P < 0.05) without significant change in mean skin temperature (Tsk) whereas metabolic heat production (M) was higher at the beginning of the SCAT (P < 0.05). For group CT, no thermoregulatory change was observed. Group C showed a lower Tre (P < 0.05) without significant change in either Tsk or in M, suggesting the development of a hypothermic general cold adaptation. This study showed, first, that the cold thermoregulatory responses induced by an interval training differed following the climatic conditions of the training and, second, that this training performed in the cold prevented the development of a general cold adaptation.