sports medicine cq3; environmental conditions (temperature regulation) Flashcards
What is the core body temp. and how does the body regulate it?
To maintain core body temp at 37 degrees celsius the body has to implement a number of specialised heat loss mechanisms.
What are the heat loss mechanisms that the body uses to regulate body temperature?
- Convection
- Conduction
- Radiation
- Evaporation
What is convection?
Convection occurs when either air or water passes over the skin, drawing heat away from the body.
How can convection be enhanced?
Wearing loose clothing and have adequate airflow indoors on hot days
Conversely , tight clothing on cold, windy days.
What is an example of convection?
After a high intensity soccer game in high temperature, it would be important for the athlete to avoid developing hyperthermia by standing in front of a fan or air conditioning to decrease the body’s temperature.
What is conduction?
Conduction is when an individual makes physical contact with a hot or cold object, altering body temperature.
This occurs since heat is transferred from the skin to the object it is in contact with.
What is an example of conduction?
After a cold ice skating race, an athlete may hug a hot heat pack to allow the body’s temperature to increase.
What is radiation?
Radiation is the process in which heat is naturally released to the outside environment, or when the body heats up on very hot days.
What is an example of enhancing the effects of radiation?
A tennis player can enhance the effectiveness of radiation by wearing loose and light coloured clothing that reflects the sun’s rays and prevents heat from getting trapped near the skin.
What is evaporation?
Evaporation is the body’s natural cooling mechanism which allows sweat to be released from the skin pores, this sweat then cools the skin with a wet layer which creates the body’s most effective means of dispersing excessive heat.
How can evaporation be enhanced?
It can be enhanced with athletes wearing breathable fabrics that wick the moisture away from the skin.
Additionally, evaporation is only effective with adequate fluid intake.
