The gender differences in thermoregulatory responses during exercise recovery

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the gender differences in thermoregulatory responses during the recovery from prolonged exercise. Fourteen (7 males and 7 females) subjects cycled for 45 minutes at 55%VO2max and then rested for 105 minutes in the hot and humid environment (30°C, 80% relative humidity) or cool environment (20°C, 60% relative humidity). Both males and females showed same variations in rectal temperature (Tre) during exercise and recovery periods. Total sweat volume and water intake were significantly larger in males than in females during recovery in the both environments. In the heat condition, mean skin temperature (Tsk) decreased immediately after the cessation of exercise in females but not in males (the recovery period (R) 5-15 min : p <0.01, R15-20 min : p<0.05). These results suggested there are gender-related differences in the mechanisms and also the process maintaining the balance of heat production and heat loss response during recovery from prolonged exercise. Moreover the heat might modify gender differences of heat loss response during recovery as an important factor.