Wearing extra layers during exercise for heat acclimation 🌡️
A practical alternative to hot environments.
Exercise with overdressing for heat acclimation: a multilayered approach using biophysical modeling and two randomized crossover trials
Study Details
This new two-part study aimed to investigate the effects of overdressing on thermal responses during exercise and heat acclimation 🔍
In study one, 15 participants were recruited who completed standardised 90-min exercise in gym-like conditions (20°C, 50% RH) in both…
🧤 Overdressing (shorts, t-shirt, long-sleeve, trousers, waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves and fleece cap)
👕 Control (shorts + t-shirt)
In study two, 12 participants completed standardised heat stress tests before and after…
🏃♂️ 5 sessions of exercise in either overdressing or control 🏃♀️
…to establish longer term adaptations🫀
Here is what they found ⬇️
Key Findings
In study one, a single session of exercise with overdressing elicited significantly higher…
🌡️ Peak core temperature
♨️ Skin temperature
🫀 Heart rate
…compared to control exercise.
In study two, five days of exercise with overdressing in a gym-like environment significantly lowered…
🌡️ Resting core temperature
📈 Peak core temperature
♨️ Skin temperature
🫀 Heart rate
…during exercise induces heat acclimation the heat.
These adaptations were superior compared to control exercise 💪
Conclusion
Overdressing offers a practical approach to heat acclimation for fit and healthy males and females ✅
After a fairly small number of sessions 📊
This is an excellent alternative when hot weather / hot environments (hot water immersion, sauna) are not readily available ☀️
Reference
https://journals.physiology.org/doi/abs/10.1152/japplphysiol.00624.2025
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