Despite exercise being essential to health and performance, many factors can prevent one from partaking in regular exercise, including changes in access to exercise facilities, increased work and life demands, health-related issues, and injuries. During this period of reduced activity, the benefits gained with exercise can be partially or completely lost, negatively affecting fitness levels. Passive heating methods, and thus, hot-water immersion, mimic some of the effects of exercise, improving cardiovascular and muscular-related function, and are a potential alternative to exercise during periods of reduced activity.
We are seeking inactive individuals (less than 150 min/week of exercise), aged 18-40, without any injuries or illnesses. Participation will involve completing four weeks of an exercise regimen followed or not by four weeks of immersion in hot water. During this eight week period you will undertake physiological tests to determine your fitness levels (VO2max test), muscle thickness (ultrasound), muscle strength (4-6 repetition maximum test), and muscle function (maximal voluntary contractions and involuntary contractions through electrical stimulation), DXA body composition scan and bioimpedance spectroscopy.
“Click here to take the eligibility survey. If you are eligible for the project and are interested in participating, the research team will send you an email with further details.”