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The effects of a heat acclimation protocol in persons with spinal cord injury.

PMID 27839550 (2016): heat acclimation — Performance in heat, Time-trial performance (study note for endurance athletes).

Last updated/Feb 23, 2026, 11:13 PM

Study note • PMID 27839550

The effects of a heat acclimation protocol in persons with spinal cord injury.

Journal of thermal biology2016 • DOI 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.10.006
Evidence C60/100
Action 2: Consider

Worth trying if it fits your goal and context.

ELI5

In plain language

Persons without spinal cord injury (SCI) physiologically acclimate between seven to fourteen consecutive days of exercise in the heat. (controlled study; n=5 athletes).

The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Performance in heat, Time-trial performance under the tested conditions. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.

Takeaways

What the abstract suggests

  • Study question: Persons without spinal cord injury (SCI) physiologically acclimate between seven to fourteen consecutive days of exercise in the heat.
  • The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Performance in heat, Time-trial performance under the tested conditions.
  • Population: n=5 athletes.
  • Protocol cues (title/abstract): 7 days • 30min • 15min.

Protocol

Protocol (as reported)

  • Intervention/exposure: heat acclimation (vs comparison group).
  • Dose/time/duration cues in abstract/title: 7 days • 30min • 15min.
  • Outcomes: Performance in heat, Time-trial performance.
  • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.

Fit

Who it helps, and who should skip it

Who it helps

  • Athletes similar to the study population (n=5 athletes) working on heat.
  • Athletes who can measure Performance in heat, Time-trial performance with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.

Who should skip

  • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
  • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.

Methods

What the study actually did

  • Design: controlled study.
  • Population: n=5 athletes.
  • Comparator: comparison group.
  • Outcomes measured: Performance in heat, Time-trial performance.
  • Protocol cues mentioned: 7 days • 30min • 15min.
  • Source: PubMed PMID 27839550 (2016) — Journal of thermal biology.

Results excerpt

What the abstract reports

For the SCI athlete, inability to acclimate will impair performance and endurance especially in warm environments, compared to the person without SCI.

Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.

Limits

Limitations & bias

  • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
  • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
  • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
  • This is performance information, not medical advice.

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Sources