Short-term heat training can significantly boost athletic performance without jeopardising an athlete’s immune system, according to research published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology. In the study, heat training over 18 days enhanced participants’ cycling performance – increasing speed by more than nine per cent – without challenging their immune systems.
Heat training is often considered risky because of the considerable stress it puts on the body, which could make an athlete susceptible to coughs, colds or flu before a big event. But while previous research has demonstrated the benefits of heat training on performance, this is the first study to examine the impact on an athlete’s immune system.