Editorial on the Research Topic
Environmental exercise physiology towards global warming: challenges, applications
and future trends
Global warming is advancing and unstoppable. At the same time as mitigating environmental
heat stress, humans are required to adapt to climate change through physical activity
(i.e., exercise and work). Therefore, the field of environmental exercise physiology,
which specializes in these areas, must consider adaptation strategies to heat stress.
Based on the scientific interest in this latter field, this research topic is dedicated
to the findings of environmental exercise physiology towards heat stress. The seven
papers; five original articles, one mini review and one brief research report, published
on the present topic exhibited their aims with varied perspectives. We will briefly
introduce each of these projects in the next section.
Wen et al. demonstrated the recent increased interest in studies on the influence
of pre-cooling and intermittent mixed-cooling by a combination of external and internal
cooling on the executive function following exercise. The study examined this influence
by performing a treadmill running simulating a tennis match in hot and humid environments.
The authors found that such cooling methods enhance executive functions following
exercise and prolong exercise duration compared to no cooling. That finding would
provide evidence concerning the effectiveness of practical cooling strategies prior
to and during exercise-heat stress.
Hutchins et al. conducted a systematic scoping review to investigate the literature
on women's response to cold water immersion as a treatment for exertional heat stroke.
This review also aimed to clarify whether current guidelines have appropriately considered
research investigating women. The authors detected that women may cool faster than
men during cold water immersion following exercise because of a rapid cooling response.
They concluded that the current guidelines for exertional heat stroke are predominantly
informed by research on males but have been accepted as appropriate for women without
validation. That observation would contribute to the literature on the validity of
a useful cooling technique following heat stress exercise.
Jiang et al. conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis to study the literature
on the usefulness of various external cooling methods on various exercise performance
in hot environments. The authors revealed that central cooling (face, neck, head and
torso cooling) would be a more effective strategy for improving exercise performance
with improvements in skin temperature and thermal sensation in the heat compared with
peripheral cooling (four limbs cooling). That result would make a contribution as
solid evidence of cooling benefits during exercise in the heat.
Naito et al. showed an increasing interest in research regarding the cooling power
of the fan cooling garments. The study tested the impacts of the use of the fan cooling
jacket on thermoregulatory responses during recovery following exercise in the heat
outdoors. The authors unearthed that external cooling by this jacket use during post-exercise
recovery in addition to internal cooling by cold water ingestion induces a faster
rate of decrease in body temperature (tympanum and skin) compared to internal cooling
by cold water ingestion alone. That evidence would usher new insights into cooling
techniques for recovery from fatigue following outdoor exercise in hot conditions.
Tokizawa carried out the study regarding the effect of wearing a wet inner garment
under a ventilation garment (i.e., fan cooling garment) on thermal strain during exercise
in the heat. The author investigated this effect using a water-soaked inner T-shirt
with a ventilation jacket during intermittent walking in young and older men. He found
that the combination of these garments mitigates thermal strain and lowers whole-body
sweat losses during moderate-intensity work in hot environments in both young and
older men. That observation would provide new evidence for developing cooling methods
during work-heat stress.
Iwahashi et al. examined the effects of cold water immersion of the hands and forearms
during half-time on thermoregulatory responses and exercise performance by imitating
intermittent athletic games in hot conditions. They found that such water immersion
improves subsequent intermittent exercise performance and alleviates thermal and perceptual
strain. That finding would lead to emerging trends as a practical cooling strategy
between exercise bouts in hot environments in athletic settings.
Otani et al. studied the time-of-day effects of team training sessions in the gym
without airflow and air conditioning on thermal strain in the summer heat. The authors
observed that thermal strain is greater in the late afternoon from 4 p.m. than in
the morning from 9 a.m. during 2.5 h badminton training sessions in the gym without
airflow and air conditioning under these conditions. That result would help to the
knowledge of preventing heat-related illnesses during exercise in the summer heat.
To conclude, this Research Topic demonstrates that the research on environmental exercise
physiology continues to develop to challenge global warming. We hope that the papers
presented in the present Research Topic make a contribution as an encouragement for
new research ideas against global warming.
However, there are still many unsolved issues for global warming adaptation in terms
of environmental exercise physiology. For instance, what combination of interventions
(i.e., heat acclimatisation/acclimation, aerobic training, conditioning and training
procedures, supplement consumption, etc.) is required to substantially increase tolerance
to heat stress? What is the most effective combination of heat mitigation strategies
(i.e., cooling, fluid ingestion, food intake, clothing, physical condition, etc.)
to alleviate thermal strain under various environmental conditions (i.e., ambient
temperature, humidity, wind speed, solar radiation, time-of-day, etc.)? It is expected
that these issues will be clarified in future research projects to build up this research
area.
Finally, we would like to thank the cooperation of Prof. Burtscher and Prof. Stapley,
who helped us as the editor, and all reviewers.