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Autonomic and behavioural thermoregulation in tennis
1Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Exercise and Sport Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney 1355, Australia. smor7484@mail.usyd.edu.au
British Journal of Sports Medicine
|December 1, 2007
Summary
Tennis players regulate body temperature and comfort through sweating and adjusting playing intensity. These physiological and behavioral responses are crucial for performance in varying environmental conditions.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Environmental Science
- Sports Science
Background:
- Competitive tennis involves significant physiological strain.
- Understanding thermoregulation is key to optimizing athlete performance and safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological and behavioral mechanisms of thermoregulation in competitive tennis players.
- To assess the impact of environmental conditions on body temperature and thermal comfort.
Main Methods:
- Monitored thermoregulatory responses and workload in 25 players across 94 matches.
- Measured core and skin temperatures, sweat rate, and subjective thermal strain.
- Assessed environmental factors (temperature, humidity, wind) and playing intensity (point duration, effective playing time).
Main Results:
- Increased rectal temperature correlated with longer point durations and effective playing time.
- Sweat rate increased with higher air, rectal, and skin temperatures.
- Reduced thermal comfort was associated with elevated rectal and skin temperatures.
- Playing intensity decreased in more challenging environmental conditions.
Conclusions:
- Autonomic thermoregulation (increased sweat rate) helps control body temperature.
- Behavioral thermoregulation (reduced workload) aids in maintaining thermal comfort.
- Both mechanisms are vital for managing physiological strain during competitive tennis.
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