Living and training in a tropical environment: a challenge for aerobic exercise applied knowledge and perspectives

The tropical climate is unique in that the seasons are dominated by the movement of the tropical rain belt, resulting in dry and wet seasons rather than the four-seasonal pattern of changes in temperature and day length seen in other parts of the world. Humid tropics are characterized by consistently high monthly temperatures, often exceeding 18 degrees C throughout the year; and rainfall that exceeds evapotranspiration for at least 270 days per year Although considerable information has been gathered on the physiological adaptation to hot/dry climates, data on acclimation to hot/humid climates are still limited. This review focusses on the effects of the tropical environment on human exercise performance through studies performed in the Caribbean, with a special emphasis on prolonged aerobic exercise such as swimming, cycling and running.