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Sport and Physical Activity in the Heat pp 147–162Cite as

Environmental Condition and Monitoring

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Abstract

The ambient environment (i.e., weather conditions) can significantly impact one’s ability to thermoregulate, particularly when exercising in environmentally stressful conditions where an imbalance between metabolic heat production and heat dissipation from the body is not adequately regulated. Empirical, direct, and rational heat indices have been developed by scientists to gauge the degree of heat strain one may experience in a range of thermal conditions. These measures are applied in athletic, military, and occupational settings to provide guidance on physical activity and/or clothing modifications that mitigate the risk of experiencing exertional heat illness. This chapter will provide an overview of common heat indices in physical activity settings and highlight the benefits and drawbacks of each index in practical applications. Lastly, the chapter will provide a case example from the Georgia High School Association in developing a set of weather-based activity modification guidelines based on an empirical study of football players’ heat injuries.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology, Korey Stringer Institute, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA

    Yuri Hosokawa PhD, MAT, ATC

  2. Department of Geography, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Andrew J. Grundstein PhD (KSI Medical & Science Advisory Board Member)

  3. Atmospheric Science, Physical Oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, 92093, CA, USA

    Jennifer K. Vanos BSc (Env), PhD

  4. Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

    Earl R. Cooper EdD, ATC, CSCS

Authors
  1. Yuri Hosokawa PhD, MAT, ATC
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  2. Andrew J. Grundstein PhD
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  3. Jennifer K. Vanos BSc (Env), PhD
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  4. Earl R. Cooper EdD, ATC, CSCS
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuri Hosokawa PhD, MAT, ATC .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology Director, Athletic Training Education Research Associate, Human Performance Laboratory College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA

    Douglas J. Casa

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Hosokawa, Y., Grundstein, A.J., Vanos, J.K., Cooper, E.R. (2018). Environmental Condition and Monitoring. In: Casa, D. (eds) Sport and Physical Activity in the Heat. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70217-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70217-9_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-70216-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-70217-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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