Optimising Core Body Temperature.

When competing in hot environments, it is important to make adaptations to ensure the heat affects performance as little as possible. Heat adaptation can improve athletic performance whilst reducing the effects of heat stress and stroke.

 

There are two main strategic approaches that are sufficiently stressful to elevate both core and skin temperature, and induce profuse sweating:

• Heat acclimation – carried out in artificial environments, such as saunas and heat chambers

• Heat acclimatisation – carried out in the natural outdoors, generally warm climate

 

Core body temperature is the most important contributor of all factors that influence the variation in athletic performance. As one heats up, power and pace decline. The CORE sensor helps one adapt and improve performance when one gets hot.

 

“While other types of wearable thermometers just record skin temperature, the CORE sensor incorporates the small 'thermal energy transfer sensor' which detects the heat moving from or into the body. This is processed by the onboard algorithm to calculate your real-time core body temperature.” (CORE website)

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 Advantages of monitoring core body temperature

• Heat Training - More effective and precise heat adaptation to condition your body for better performance.

• Optimize Racing - Strategic cooling suited to your individual temperature behaviour on race day.

• Avoid Overheating - Set your own safe limits to maximise performance while avoiding overheating.

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Acclimation to one environmental stressor (i.e., heat acclimation) could enhance adaptation to various other stressors (i.e., hypoxia) without any pre-exposure to that specific stressor. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1368724) We are currently exploring ways to trial the use of heat training to assist with altitude acclimatisation, watch this space.

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At Kaitiaki Endurance Sports we provide our athletes with a discount to purchase the CORE sensor, assist with undertaking heat ramp tests and integrate the ensuing heat training zones for heat training into their training plan.