Skip to main content

Heat Tolerance Testing

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Sport and Physical Activity in the Heat

Abstract

Exertional Heat Stroke (EHS) is a life-threatening illness that affects both athletic and military populations. It continues to be among one of the top three leading causes of death in these cohorts and remains largely preventable. Although clear guidelines have been established for the successful treatment of EHS, the process of returning individuals who have survived EHS is much less clear. However the use of a heat tolerance test (HTT) has shown promise and utility within both the military and athletic models.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Armstrong LE, Casa DJ, Millard-Stafford M, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand: exertional heat illness during training and competition. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007;39:556–72.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Casa DJ, DeMartini JK, Bergeron MF, et al. National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement: exertional heat illnesses. J Athl Train. 2015;50(9):986–1000.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  3. Casa DJ, Guskiewicz KM, Anderson SA, et al. National Athletic Trainers’ Association position statement: preventing sudden death in sports. J Athl Train. 2012;47(1):96–118.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. OConnor FG, Williams AD, Blivin S, Heled Y, Deuster P, Flinn SD. Guidelines for return to duty (play) after heat illness: a military perspective. J Sport Rehabil. 2007;16(3):227–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Heled Y, Rav-Acha M, Shani Y, et al. The “golden hour” for heatstroke treatment. Mil Med. 2004;169(3):184–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Epstein Y. Heat intolerance: predisposing factor or residual injury? Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;22:30–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Moran DS, Erlich T, Epstein Y. The heat tolerance test: an efficient screening tool for evaluating susceptibility to heat. J Sport Rehabil. 2007;16:215–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Casa D, McDermott B, Lee E, et al. Cold water immersion: the gold standard for exertional heatstroke treatment. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2007;35(3):141–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Demartini JK, Casa DJ, Stearns R, et al. Effectiveness of cold water immersion in the treatment of exertional heat stroke at the falmouth road race. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2015;47(2):240–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Keren G, Epstein Y, Magazanik A. Temporary heat intolerance in a heatstroke patient. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1981;52(2):116–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. McDermott BP, Casa DJ, Yeargin SW, et al. Recovery and return to activity following exertional heat stroke: considerations for the sports medicine staff. J Sport Rehab. 2007;16:163–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Phinney LT, Gardner JW, Kark JA, Wenger CB. Long-term follow-up after exertional heat illness during recruit training. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33(9):1443–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Shapiro Y, Magazanik A, Udassin R, et al. Heat intolerance in former heatstroke patients. Ann Intern Med. 1979;90(6):913–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. OConnor FG, Casa DJ, Bergeron MF, et al. American College of Sports Medicine roundtable on exertional heat stroke—return to duty/return to play: conference proceedings. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010;9(5):314–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Santee W, Gonzalez R. Characteristics of the thermal environment. In: Pandolf KB, Sawka MN, Gonzalez RR, editors. Human performance physiology and environmental medicine at terrestrial extremes. Indianapolis, IL: Benchmark Press; 1988. p. 1–44.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Stitt J. Central regulation of body temperature. In: Gisolfi CV, Lamb DR, Nadel ER, editors. Exercise, heat and thermoregulation. Traverse City, MI: Cooper Publishing Group; 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Druyan A, Makranz C, Moran D, et al. Heat tolerance in women–reconsidering the criteria. Aviat Space Environ Med. 2012;83(1):58–60.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Amit D, Ketko I, Yanovich R, et al. Refining the distinction between heat tolerant and intolerant individuals during a heat tolerance test. J Therm Biol. 2013;38(8):539–42.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hursel R, Westerterp-Plantenga MS. Thermogenic ingredients and body weight regulation. Int J Obes (Lond). 2010;34:659–69.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lisman P, Kazman JB, O'Connor FG, Heled Y, Deuster PA. Heat tolerance testing: association between heat intolerance and anthropometric and fitness measurements. Mil Med. 2014;179(11):1339–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lyrons J, Allsopp A, Bilzon J. Influences of body composition upon the relative metabolic and cardiovascular demands of load-carriage. Occup Med. 2005;55:380–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ricciardi R, Deuster PA, Talbot LA. Metabolic demands of body armor on physical performance in simulated conditions. Mil Med. 2008;173(9):817–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Vaughan RA, Conn CA, Mermier CM. Effects of commercially available dietary supplements on resting energy expenditure: a brief report. ISRN Nutr. 2014;2014:650264.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Goddard CJ, Warnes TW. Raised liver enzymes in asymptomatic patients: investigation and outcome. Dig Dis. 1992;10:218–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Stearns RL, Casa DJ, O’Connor FG, et al. A tale of two heat strokes: a comparative case study. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2016;15(2):94–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ketko I, Eliyahu U, Epstein Y, Heled Y. The thermal-circulatory ratio (TCR): an index to evaluate the tolerance to heat. Temperature (Austin). 2014;1(2):101–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Poussel M, Guerci P, Kaminsky P, Heymonet M, Roux-Buisson N, Faure J, et al. Exertional heat stroke and susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia in an athlete: evidence for a link? J Athl Train. 2015;50(11):1212–4.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Epstein Y, Druyan A, Heled Y. Heat injury prevention—a military perspective. J Strength Cond Res. 2012;26(Suppl. 2):S82–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sagui E, Montigon C, Abriat A, Jouvion A, Duron-Martinaud S, Canini F, et al. Is there a link between exertional heat stroke and susceptibility to malignant hyperthermia? PLoS One. 2015;10(8):e0135496.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Johnson EC, Kolkhorst FW, Richburg A, Schmitz A, Martinez J, Armstrong LE. Specific exercise heat stress protocol for a triathlete’s return from exertional heat stroke. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2013;12(2):106–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Mee JA, Doust J, Maxwell NS. Repeatability of a running heat tolerance test. J Therm Biol. 2015;49-50:91–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Roberts WO, Dorman JC, Bergeron MF. Recurrent heat stroke in a runner: race simulation testing for return to activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2016;48(5):785–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rebecca L. Stearns PhD, ATC .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Stearns, R.L., Deuster, P.A., Kazman, J.B., Heled, Y., O’Connor, F.G. (2018). Heat Tolerance Testing. In: Casa, D. (eds) Sport and Physical Activity in the Heat. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70217-9_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70217-9_12

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-70216-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-70217-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics