Media

OTTAWA, August 9, 2011  —  Ollie Jay, assistant professor at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Health Sciences and director of the Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory at the University, has received, along with colleagues from the University of South Florida and the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, a $124,000 Medical Research Grant from the National Football League to examine the individual factors (e.g. body size, player position) that predispose particular players to dangerous levels of heat strain. 

Every year in early August, NFL teams, as well as high school and college football teams across the United States, begin their summer training camps in preparation for the coming season. 

At all levels of competition, the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke is great, due to a combination of intense levels of physical exertion, clothing insulation from equipment, and high ambient temperatures and humidity. Heat-related deaths occur at football training camps every year, with 2011 being no exception.

As part of this research, simultaneous on-field measurements of core temperature, skin temperature and physical movement (with GPS technology) were taken during live training camp activities, for the first time. In addition, unique metabolic energy expenditure measurements were taken on athletes performing position-specific football drills, in order to ascertain the associated levels of heat production within the body. Data was collected on players from the University of South Florida NCAA Division 1 football program during their training camp in August 2010. 

Prior to the start of training camp, Professor Jay and his team also conducted a laboratory-based study with the same athletes in a climate-controlled chamber to compare sweating capacity of large linemen (approximately 335 lbs.) and smaller defensive backs and wide receivers (approximately180 lbs.). This study, which was recently published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, shows that larger linemen appear to be far less efficient at evaporating the sweat they produce (which provides cooling). Consequently, linemen must produce much more sweat to stay cool than their smaller counterparts, leading to a greater risk of heat exhaustion and dehydration.

Ultimately, the results of this project and other on-going work will lead to the development of more efficient on-field interventions to reduce the risk of heat-related health problems in football players at the high school, college and professional levels.