Then there are factors such as the temperature, allergens, pollution and altitude that cannot be controlled and can have serious effects on human performance. Environmental factors such as temperature during competition can hinder performance if not taken seriously. The average body temperature is 37°C

1. Environmental factors
in exercise and sports
performance

2. Heat Stress
Maintenance of normal temperature in a hot environment
depends on the ability of the body to dissipate heat.
Body temperature can be affected by 5 factors.

3. Heat Stress
• 5 factors that influence body temperature
• Metabolic heat production
• Conductive heat exchange
• Direct contact with the turf
• Convective heat exchange
• Uses a circulating medium like wind or water
• Radiant heat exchange
• Radiation from the sun
• Evaporation heat exchange
• Sweat evaporates taking large amounts of heat with it.

4. Monitoring the Heat Index
• Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)
• Dry bulb temperature (DBT)
• thermometer
• Wet bulb temperature (WBT)
• Sling psychrometer
• Use a Relative Humidity Index

5. Heat Illnesses
• Heat Rash (prickly heat)
• Red raised rash
• Tingling
• Heat Syncope
• Rapid physical fatigue
• Fainting, nausea caused by pooling of blood in the extremities to
try to cool the body off.

6. Heat Illnesses
• Heat Cramps
• Painful muscle spasms
• Usually occur in the calf, hamstrings &
abdomen
• Related to loss of water and electrolytes
• Treated with water, electrolyte drinks,
stretching the muscles, and cooling the body.

7. Heat Illnesses
•Heat Exhaustion
• Results from dehydration
• Dizziness, Collapse
• Profuse sweating
• Rapid pulse, Pale skin
• Elevated temperature (102 deg.)
• Treatment includes rehydration and sometimes intravenous fluids
• Cool the athlete as quickly as possible

8. Heat Illnesses
• Heat Stroke
• Life threatening emergency due to a breakdown of the
thermoregulatory system
• Core temperature over 106 degrees
• Loss of consciousness
• Flushed hot skin, sometimes dry
• Treatment includes cooling the body off quickly

9. Preventing Heat Illness
• Gradual acclimatization to conditions
• Identify susceptible athletes
• Lightweight uniforms
• Routine weight record keeping
• Unrestricted fluid replacement
• Well balanced diet
• Monitor hot humid conditions
• Use common sense

10. Warning Signs of Heat Illness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Mental slowness
• Incoherence
• Visual disturbance
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Unsteadiness
• Collapse
• Unconsciousness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Cramps
• Seizures
• Rigidity
• Weak, rapid pulse
• Pallor
• Flush
• Faintness
• Chill
• Cyanotic appearance

11. Hypothermia
• Causes of a drop in core body temperature
• Low temperature
• Wind
• Wetness
• Symptoms
• Exhaustion
• Impairment in neuromeuscular responses
• Shivering
• Death can occur with a core temperature between 77
degrees and 85 degrees

12. Hypothermia
• Prevention
• Wear waterproof and windproof fabrics
• Wear lots of thin layers
• Proper warm up
• Maintain hydration

13. Common Cold Injuries
• Frost Nip
• Involves ears, nose cheeks, fingers and toes
• Skin is firm and may blister
• Treat by warming the area

14. Common Cold Injuries
• Chillblains
• Skin redness, swelling, tingling and pains
• Superficial frost bite
• Skin appears pale, hard, cold, and waxy
• When rewarmed will burn and tingle
• May produce blisters later

15. Common Cold Injuries
• Deep Frost Bite
• Involves tissues that are frozen
• Requires immediate hospitalization
• Skin is hard, pale or white, and numb
• Treat by rapidly rewarming the tissue
• Later the tissue may become gangrenous, causing a loss of tissue.

16. Altitude
• At high altitudes the athletes oxygen uptake is decreased
causing a decrease in performance.
• The body compensates by increasing the heart rate
(tachycardia).
• Hyperventilation can occur along with increased breathing
rate, increased heart rate

17. Altitude
• Symptoms of Altitude Illness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Sleep disturbance
• Dyspnea
• Cough
• weakness

18. Overexposure To Sun
• Sun exposure should be avoided during competition
• Sun exposure causes early fatigue and can lead to dehydration
• Causes skin cancer and skin aging
• Sun Protection Factor (SPF)
• SPF 30 sunscreen is advised when participating in outdoor events
lasting long durations.

19. Electrical Storms
• Flash-to-Bang: provides an
estimation of how far away the
lightning is.
• Seconds divided by 5 = miles away
• 30 seconds = closely monitor the
conditions
• 15 seconds = immediately seek shelter

20. Other Environmental Conditions
• Jet Lag
• Air Pollution
• Artificial Turf
• Wet Conditions
• Hard Surfaces
• Others …..