Acute hemorheological responses to an incremental shuttle-run test at -10 °C versus 18 °C in young healthy men

The presented study concerns exercise physiology under conditions of effect of single sprint in air temperature of -10 °C on selected blood hemorheological indicators (fibrinogen, blood plasma viscosity) in healthy males. Important to know the differences in hemorheological indicators on physical exercise at low temperatures compared to those obtained at normal temperatures cardiovascular risk assessment.

The study was experimental in nature and assumed a comparison of the body response to exercise performed at reduced (-10 °C) and neutral (18 °C) temperatures. It involved 30 healthy males, students of physiotherapy at the University of Physical Culture in Krakow, Poland. The enrolled individuals were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 15) ran in a thermal climate chamber at an air temperature of -10 °C, group 2 (n = 15) ran in the fresh air at a neutral air temperature of 18 °C.

Significant changes were observed in the platelet count in both the control group and the experimental group. No effect of the experimental factor, i.e. cold, was noted for the following indicators: fibrinogen, blood plasma viscosity, platelet indicators.

Prevailing temperature conditions during single sprint had no substantial influence on changes in the analyzed blood parameters. The main finding of the study is that short-term, maximal single sprint in very low temperatures (-10 °C) does not induce different or more pronounced hemorheological changes than the same effort performed under thermoneutral conditions (18 °C) in young, healthy males. The results suggest that a short, intense workout in temperatures of -10 °C, when wearing appropriate clothing (thermal base layers), does not lead to dangerous disturbances in blood flow.