Seasonal acclimatization is known to result in adaptations that can improve heat tolerance. Staff who operate on burn injuries are exposed to thermally stressful conditions and seasonal acclimatization may improve their thermoeffector responses during surgery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the physiological and perceptual responses of staff who operate on burn injuries during summer and winter, to determine whether they become acclimatized to the heated operating theater.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Work Expo Health
March 2024
This study assessed the effect of season on cognitive function and psycho-physiological responses during a 14-day swing in mine-service workers. Cognitive function, thermal sensation and comfort, rating of perceived exertion, fatigue, hydration, core temperature and heart rate were assessed throughout a shift, on three separate days over a swing. Working memory and processing efficiency did not differ between seasons (p > 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMine industry workers (n=515) from various locations in Australia completed a questionnaire to assess the prevalence of symptoms associated with heat-related illness and water consumption habits during a summer season. Participants read from a pre-defined list and noted any heat-related symptoms that they had experienced. The most prevalent symptoms experienced were fatigue, headache, sweating, and dark coloured urine, with 77% of respondents reporting at least one symptom.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the seasonal effects that working outdoors had on various parameters in mining industry workers over the course of a work-shift. Workers ( = 27) were assessed in summer (33.3 ± 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhile working in the heat is a common practice within the Australian mining industry, it can lead to adverse effects on cognitive function, productivity, and physical health. This study aimed to compare the thermal strain experienced by maintenance workers and service workers in the mining industry during summer. Psycho-physiological parameters, manual dexterity, and cognitive function were assessed in maintenance workers (n = 12) and service workers (n = 12) employed at mine site villages in north-west Australia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to evaluate complex cognitive function, manual dexterity and psycho-physiological parameters in tradesmen working outdoors in the mining industry during summer and winter. Twenty-six males working in a mining village in the north-west of Australia were assessed pre- and post-an 11-h shift at the start, middle, and end of a 14-day swing in summer (average daily temperature: 33.9°C, 38% RH; = 12) and winter (24.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRaising the ambient temperature of the operating theatre is common practice during burn surgeries to maintain the patient's core body temperature; however, the effects of operating in the heat on cognitive performance, manual dexterity, and perceived workload of surgical staff have not been assessed in a real-world context. Therefore, the aim was to assess the real-time impact of heat during burn surgeries on staff's cognitive function, manual dexterity, and perceptual measures (workload, thermal sensation, thermal comfort, perceived exertion, and fatigue) and physiological parameters (core temperature, heart-rate, fluid loss, and dehydration). Ten burn surgery staff members were assessed in CON (24.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis investigation assessed the psycho-physiological and performance effects of hot water immersion (HWI) implemented either before or after a repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) session conducted in the heat. Ten participants completed three RSH trials (3 × 10 × 5-s sprints), conducted at 40°C and simulated altitude of 3000 m. A 30-min monitoring period preceded and followed all exercise sessions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate the influence of shorter, more frequent rest breaks during simulated work (outdoor mining) in the heat on physical performance and psychophysiological responses.
Methods: On separate days, thirteen males undertook two 225 min simulation trials in the afternoon (12.00-3.
This study investigated the effects of precooling via crushed ice ingestion on cognitive performance during repeated-sprint cycling in the heat. Nine males, non-heat acclimatised to heat (mean age: 28.2 ± 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to investigate acute performance and physiological responses to the manipulation of exercise-to-rest ratio (E:R) during repeated-sprint hypoxic training (RSH) in hot conditions. Twelve male team-sport players completed two experimental sessions at a simulated altitude of ∼3000 m (FO 0.144), air temperature of 40°C and relative humidity of 50%.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study assessed the effectiveness of head cooling during exercise in the heat on cognitive performance, either alone or with ice ingestion. Ten healthy males, non-acclimatized to heat, ran (70% V̇Opeak) for 2×30 min in heat (35 ± 0.9°C, 68.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study aims to investigate the acute performance and physiological responses, with specific reference to muscle oxygenation, to ambient air temperature manipulation during repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH). Thirteen male team-sport players completed one familiarisation and three experimental sessions at a simulated altitude of ∼3000 m (FO 0.144).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Sports Physiol Perform
November 2021
Purpose: This study aimed to assess the influence of graded air temperatures during repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) on performance and physiological responses.
Methods: Ten well-trained athletes completed one familiarization and 4 experimental sessions at a simulated altitude of 3000 m (0.144 FIO2) above sea level.
This study investigated the effectiveness of head cooling on cognitive performance after 30 min and 60 min of running in the heat. Ten moderately-trained, non-heat-acclimated, male endurance athletes (mean age: 22 ± 6.6 y; height: 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To isolate heat exposure as a cause of cognitive impairment and increased subjective workload in burns surgical teams.
Summary Of Background Data: Raising ambient temperature of the operating room can improve burns patient outcomes, but risks increased cognitive impairment and workload of surgical team members. Prior research indicates ambient heat exposure depletes physiological and cognitive resources, but these findings have not been studied in the context of burns surgical teams.
Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading non-malignant cause of death in childhood cancer survivors. Heightened risk of CVD is often attributable to treatment with anthracycline chemotherapy. Anthracycline-mediated cardiac injury may lie latent for years following cessation of treatment and is therefore often not detected until disease is advanced and aggressive therapy is required.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Childhood leukemia survivors commonly develop late-onset cardiovascular disease after treatment with anthracyclines. Resting echocardiogram is the standard procedure for monitoring cardiac health but this method may not be sensitive enough to detect subclinical injury. Exercise echocardiography may provide a viable alternative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Hot environmental conditions can result in a high core-temperature and dehydration which can impair physical and cognitive performance. This study aimed to assess the effects of a hot operating theatre on various performance, physiological and psychological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery.
Methods: Due to varying activity levels, surgery staff were allocated to either an Active (n = 9) or Less-Active (n = 8) subgroup, with both subgroups performing two simulated burn surgery trials (CONTROL: ambient conditions; 23±0.
The purpose of this study was to compare the separate and combined effects of two practical cooling methods (hand and torso) used prior to exercise on subsequent high-intensity cycling performance in heat. Ten trained male cyclists (V̇Opeak: 65.7 ± 10.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to compare the impact of continuous (CON) and intermittent (INT) heat acclimation protocols on repeat-sprint performance, and to also assess the degree of performance decay following acclimation. Using a pair-matched, between subjects design, 16 trained male team sport athletes were allocated to either INT (8 sessions over 15 days) or CON acclimation (8 sessions over 8 days) groups. Participants performed a heat tolerance test (HTT) involving 60-min of repeat-sprint cycling with a 10-min half time break (in 35.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to assess the separate and combined effects of a cooling glove (CG) and a gel-cooling jacket (CJ) used during a half-time break on manual dexterity performance (Purdue Pegboard test) and subsequent repeat-sprint cycling performance in hot conditions. Twelve male athletes performed four experimental trials (within subjects, counterbalanced design) that consisted of: wearing a CG, wearing a CJ, combination of CG and CJ (CG+J) or a no-cooling control (NC) for 15 min during a 20 min half-time break performed between 2 x 30 min repeated-sprint cycling bouts in heat (35.0 ± 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of pediatric oncology related cerebral insult are vulnerable to numerous treatment-induced deficits that significantly enhance cardiovascular disease risk. Regular exercise improves endothelial function, fitness, body composition and musculoskeletal function which may reduce predisposition for cardiovascular disease. Here we assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a 24-week exercise intervention on cardiovascular, physical and metabolic outcomes in this population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study compared the effects of a hand cooling glove (∼16°C water temperature; subatmospheric pressure of -40 mmHg) and a cooling jacket (CJ) on post-exercise cooling rates (gastrointestinal core temperature, Tc; skin temperature, Tsk) and cognitive performance (the Stroop Colour-Word test). Twelve male athletes performed four trials (within subjects, counterbalanced design) involving cycling at a workload equivalent to 75% ⩒Omax in heat (35.7 ± 0.
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