| Abstract | Purpose The effectiveness of increased air velocity in reducing hydration shifts and physiological strain during work in the heat was examined in young and older males. Methods Ten young (mean ± SE, 24 ± 1 years) and 10 older (59 ± 1 years) males, matched for height, mass, and body surface area, cycled 4 × 15-min at moderate-to-heavy heat production (400 W), with 15-min rest separations between exercise bouts (final recovery 30 min), while wearing work clothing in humid heat (35 °C, 60 % relative humidity) under low (~0.5 m s-1) and high (~3.0 m s-1) air velocity. Rectal temperature (Tre) and heart rate were measured continuously, whereas hydration indices and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured at rest (PRE) and following the final recovery (POST). Results Young and older males experienced similar thermal and cardiovascular strain within the low (Tre end-exercise: young = 38.28 ± 0.11, older = 38.31 ± 0.08 °C) and high (Tre end-exercise: young = 37.94 ± 0.08, older = 37.87 ± 0.08 °C) air velocity conditions, with a reduced increase in both groups in high compared to low. Percent changes in plasma volume were similarly greater during the low (young = -10.9 ± 1.2, older = -10.8 ± 0.9 %) compared to high (young = -5.7 ± 0.6, older = -6.9 ± 0.7 %) condition for both groups. Despite elevated IL-6 at PRE in the older males, the IL-6 absolute change was similar between young (low = +4.10 ± 0.95, high = +0.99 ± 0.32 pg mL-1) and older (low = +3.58 ± 0.83, high = +1.24 ± 0.28 pg mL-1) males yet greater during the low compared to high condition. Conclusions Increased air velocity was effective in reducing the increase in hydration shifts and physiological strain (i.e. IL-6, thermal and cardiovascular strain) equally in young and older males. |
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