Effect of a 16-day Hot and Cold Acclimation on Adaptive Responses and Health-related Indicators

Time Course of Adaptive Responses in Humans During a 16-day Hot and Cold Acclimation Program, and Its Effect on Health-related Indicators

There are no previous studies of the effects of a combination of whole-body immersions in hot and cold baths on adaptive responses and health-related markers. Thus, the primary aim of this project is to determine whether interventions consisting of whole body immersion in hot and cold baths over 16 days develop heat and/or cold adaptation by remodeling thermoregulatory, metabolic, cardiovascular and physiological responses, and the secondary aim is to determine if current cold-hot acclimation has any effects on physical and mental health-related markers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• young, healthy, non-obese males and females;
• nonsmoker;
• no needle phobia;
• not taking medication and/or dietary supplements that may affect experimental variables.

Exclusion Criteria:

• neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, and/or inflammatory diseases, or conditions that could be worsened by exposure to acute thermal stimuli and that could affect experimental variables;
• involvement in temperature manipulation program for ≥ 3 months;
• attendance at any excessive formal physical exercise or sports program.