Just as the weather can influence the hosting of sporting events, so too can it influence the performance of the participants and, by extension, the outcome of an event. This information, along with previous performance, can be used to predict the performance of a team/athlete in a particular sporting event. The impact of high temperatures is often not considered by fans and spectators but plays a critical role in the success or failure of a team.
Think about a team from Northern Europe, where the average temperature in the summer ranges from 81/4C to 16 1/4C, travelling to compete in the Caribbean where temperature can get up to 311/4C in the summer. What about Qatar (World Cup destination for 2022), where the average summer temperature ranges from 35 1/4C to 45 1/4C? This factor has led to summer events in tropical areas being scheduled to run from November to December, when summer temperatures are moderate. The FIFA World Cup hosted in Brazil in 2014 was the first-ever World Cup to have a hydration break because of extreme temperatures.
Various medical and sporting organisations across the world have different protocols and recommendations regarding the highest temperature under which normal play could continue and what to do in the event of higher temperatures. Some organisations recommend termination of the event while some incorporate additional breaks. FIFA recommends cooling breaks at minutes 30 and 75 of a football match at temperatures 32oC and above.
High temperatures, however, are not always a stand-alone danger. Humidity levels are also important. The higher the humidity levels, the higher the danger. This danger is in developing heat-related illnesses. For this reason, protocols are put in place to decrease the risk of competitors developing these illnesses, especially at high levels of sport performance.
As with all illnesses, there are subsets of the population that are at greater risk for heat-related illnesses. These include but are not limited to children 15 years and younger, adults 65 years and older, persons who partake in excessive alcohol consumption and persons suffering from dehydration. Other groups at risk include persons who are obese, those who are sleep deprived and persons with poor fitness levels.
For athletes, the risk factors may be slightly different, particularly at the professional level. Competing at high temperatures, poor sleeping habits and poor hydration practices, as well as lack of awareness and education on the topic, are just a few factors that may put an athlete at risk for a heat illness. To lower these risks, the coaches and medical staff responsible for athletes must have guidelines in place to prevent heat illnesses from occurring, as well as manage them in the event they do actually happen.
All sporting organisations should have preparation guidelines or protocols in place for their athletes, especially if they are required to travel. This preparation becomes key for international events due to new climate and weather patterns to be faced, which may include high temperatures.
Education is an important factor in preventing any illness. Hydration before, during and after competition is another form of preparation for playing in the sun. In warmer temperatures, it is also important to wear loose, light clothing so the body traps less heat and sweating and evaporation can take place easily. The best form of preparation is, however, acclimatisation.
Acclimatisation is simply the act of gradually exposing the body to a desired environmental condition which then causes the body to adapt. Methods of heat acclimatisation include training at higher temperatures, starting with short duration and gradually increasing the exposure. Approximately 10-14 days of heat exposure and training with adequate hydration and cooling practices should help an athlete to be ready for temperatures higher than their home temperatures. The level of heat exposure is dependent on the temperatures of the destination country for competition, and exposure should mimic similar or exact conditions if possible. Acclimatisation may be achieved by travelling early, at least two weeks, or simulating, using artificial methods like an environmental chamber.
Should there be inadequate preparation or acclimatisation, there are two major effects: hyperthermia, which is an increased core body temperature, and dehydration. These may lead to more noticeable effects such as cramps, increased sweating and decreased training and competition performance. These training and performance limitations may include lower endurance, less distance covered, decreased running speeds and lap times. They may also result in a myriad of heat-related illnesses.
So before deciding to have fun in the sun, consider what may happen and consult the heat-stress index, which may help you to determine if it is too hot to play.
Kwanzi Bernard is a physical therapist and a candidate in the MSc Sports and Exercise Medicine Programme in the Faculty of Sport.