Interactions between perceived exertion and thermal perception in the heat in endurance athletes

Abstract Introduction The study aimed to investigate how a distortion of perceived exertion in the heat may affect, during a self-paced cycling exercise preceded by prior cognitive task, the thermal perception and the subsequent regulation of power output in high level athletes. Methods Eleven endurance trained male athletes completed four experimental sessions including a 30-min fixed-RPE (15-Hard) cycling exercise in neutral (TMP-22 °C) and hot (HOT-37 °C) conditions, following a 60-min incongruent Stroop task (EXP) or passively watching documentary films (CON). Central and peripheral performances of the knee extensors were assessed before the cognitive task and after the exercise. Results Although mental demand and effort were higher in EXP ( P −1 vs. 3.42 ± 0.10 W⋅kg −1 respectively, P P Conclusion Although the effects of combined stressors on the distortion of perceived exertion could not be verified, the greater decline in power output recorded in HOT than TMP suggest a high contribution of both perceptual and cardiovascular responses in the regulation of work rate when the subject is in mild hyperthermia.