Preparing for and competing in the heat: the human perspective.
Abstract: This review provides an overview of the challenges that face man and horses when exercising in the heat. Some of the strategies that are used and are being developed for human athletes exercising in the heat are reviewed. There are many similarities between human and equine physiological responses to exercise in the heat; and equine exercise science may gain some useful insights from the training, fluid replacement and heat acclimatisation strategies used by human athletes. There are, however, some important differences that impact on the ability of horses to thermoregulate and to regulate fluid and electrolyte balance. The major differences are the low surface area to body mass ratio in horses compared to man; and the high metabolic capacity of equine skeletal muscle. These 2 factors may limit the ability of horses to dissipate heat when exercise is performed under hot conditions. Some of the more important equine differences are highlighted within the context of the "human perspective'.
Publication Date: 1995-11-01 PubMed ID: 8933079DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb05002.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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This research review explores the strategies both humans and horses use to adapt to exercising in high heat, aiming to leverage solutions from human athletes for use in equine sports due to their physiological similarities. However, challenges like a horse’s lower surface area to body mass ratio and the high metabolic capacity of equine skeletal muscle make heat dissipation during exercise in hot conditions more problematic and complex.
Understanding Exercise in the Heat
- Exercising in the heat presents significant challenges for both humans and horses. The body’s need to regulate its temperature often clashes with the high metabolic demands of exercise, leading to stress and potential health risks
- The review looks at how these issues are managed by human athletes, with the goal of applying some of the same strategies to horses
Similarities Between Human and Equine Physiological Responses
- Humans and horses have many similarities when it comes to how their bodies react to exercise in the heat. These similarities make it possible that strategies used by human athletes could potentially be applied to horses
- The factors studied include training techniques, fluid replacement strategies, and heat acclimatisation approaches. These methods help the body manage the heat and replenish the depleted resources, allowing for continued performance
Differences Between Humans and Horses
- Despite the similarities, there are crucial differences between humans and horses that affect their ability to handle heat. These differences must be considered when looking for solutions to help horses exercise in the heat
- The major differences highlighted by this review are the horse’s lower surface area to body mass ratio and the high metabolic capacity of the horse’s skeletal muscle. These two factors make it particularly challenging for horses to dissipate heat when exercising in hot conditions
Importance of Specific Equine Differences
- The review underlines particular differences in horses that must be taken into account when formulating strategies for exercising in the heat. While humans may be able to adapt through training and other strategies, horses have physical barriers that need more specialized approaches
- By examining the issue from both a human and equine perspective, the review aims to improve understanding of the challenge and to propose more efficient strategies for horses participating in sports in high heat conditions
Cite This Article
APA
Maughan RJ, Lindinger MI.
(1995).
Preparing for and competing in the heat: the human perspective.
Equine Vet J Suppl(20), 8-15.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb05002.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University Medical School, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, Scotland.
MeSH Terms
- Acclimatization
- Animals
- Body Temperature Regulation
- Clothing
- Cognition / physiology
- Dehydration / physiopathology
- Dehydration / prevention & control
- Dehydration / veterinary
- Exercise / physiology
- Fluid Therapy / veterinary
- Horses / physiology
- Hot Temperature
- Humans
- Life Style
- Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Ericson C, Stenfeldt P, Hardeman A, Jacobson I. The Effect of Kinesiotape on Flexion-Extension of the Thoracolumbar Back in Horses at Trot.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 13;10(2).
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