Table 3 Physiological responses at rest and during the running heat tolerance test before (Pre) and after (Post) 3 weeks of intermittent post-exercise sauna bathing. Data are presented as mean ± SD

 Resting T_rec (°C)

37.2 ± 0.1

37.0 ± 0.3*

37.2 ± 0.2

36.9 ± 0.2*

 Resting HR (beats·min⁻¹)

57 ± 8

53 ± 9*

53 ± 8

50 ± 7*

 Resting plasma volume (%)

62 ± 2^#

62 ± 4^#

57 ± 2

56 ± 5

 Haemoglobin (g·dL⁻¹)

12.9 ± 0.7^#

12.9 ± 0.6^#

14.5 ± 0.7

14.7 ± 0.7

 Peak T_rec (°C)

38.8 ± 0.4^#

38.4 ± 0.3*^#

38.3 ± 0.3

38.1 ± 0.4*

 T_recRISE (°C)

1.6 ± 0.3^#

1.4 ± 0.3*

1.0 ± 0.3

1.1 ± 0.3

 Peak T_sk (°C)

37.1 ± 0.8^#

36.1 ± 0.8*^#

36.0 ± 1.2

35.3 ± 0.7*

 Peak HR (beats·min⁻¹)

173 ± 22^#

163 ± 18*^#

152 ± 13

144 ± 15*

 Sweat Loss (%BM)

1.1 ± 0.3^#

1.3 ± 0.3

1.5 ± 0.7

1.3 ± 0.4

 Forearm active sweat glands (per cm²)

46 ± 25

66 ± 25*

62 ± 19

58 ± 16

 Upper back active sweat glands (per cm²)

61 ± 15

64 ± 20

72 ± 18

58 ± 16*

 FBF (mL·dL tissue⁻¹·min⁻¹)

2.77 ± 1.61

3.11 ± 1.80^#

3.83 ± 2.32

8.30 ± 4.63*