Hot water immersion; potential to improve intermittent running performance and perception of in-game running ability in semi-professional Australian Rules Footballers?

This study investigated whether hot water immersion (HWI) could heat acclimate athletes and improve intermittent running performance and perception of in-game running ability, during a competitive Australian Rules Football (ARF) season. Fifteen male semi-professional ARF athletes (Mean (SD); age: 22 (3) years, height: 182.3 (6.5) cm, mass: 80.5 (5.1) kg) completed either HWI (HEAT, N = 8, 13 (2) sessions, 322 (69) min exposure, 39.5 (0.3) degrees C) or acted as a control (CON, N = 7, no water immersion) over 6-weeks. Athletes completed a 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test pre and post-intervention to assess intermittent running performance (V-IFT), with perception of in-game running ability measured. Heat acclimation was determined via change in resting plasma volume, as well as physiological and perceptual responses during HWI. HEAT elicited large PV expansion (mean +/- 90% CI: d = 1.03 +/- 0.73), large decreases in heart rate (d = -0.89 +/- 0.70), thermal sensation (d = -2.30 +/- 1.15) and tympanic temperature (d = -1.18 +/- 0.77). Large improvements in V-IFT were seen in HEAT (d = 1.67 +/- 0.93), with HEAT showing a greater improvement in V-IFT when compared to CON (d = 0.81 +/- 0.88). HEAT also showed greater belief that in-game running ability improved post-intervention (d = 2.15 +/- 1.09) compared to CON. A 6-week HWI intervention can elicit heat acclimation, improve perception of in-game running ability, and potentially improve V-IFT in semi-professional ARF athletes.