The Heat Tolerance Test: An Efficient Screening Tool for Evaluating Susceptibility to Heat
in Journal of Sport RehabilitationClick name to view affiliation
Context:
Individuals in the population who are not able to sustain heat and whose body temperature will start rising earlier and at a higher rate than that of others, under the same conditions, are defined as “heat intolerant.”
Objectives:
The applicability of the heat tolerance test (HTT) in identifying individuals’ tolerance/intolerance to heat is presented.
Setting:
HTT is performed according to the following protocol: 120 minutes exposure to 40°C and 40% relative humidity in a climatic chamber while walking on a treadmill, dressed in shorts and T-shirt, at a pace of 5 km/h and 2% elevation. Rectal temperature and heart rate are continuously monitored, and sweat rate is calculated.
Results and Conclusion:
The HTT that is based on controlled exposure to an exercise-heat stress is an applicable and an efficient tool in differentiating between a temporary and permanent state of heat susceptibility.
The authors are with the Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel. Phone: 972-35303564; E-mail: dmoran@sheba.health.gov.il.
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