Sweat Rate Monitoring During Maximal Exercise in Healthy Soccer Players: A Close Relationship with Anaerobic Threshold

Purpose: Sweating is a homeostatic phenomenon regulated by both thermal and non-thermal factors during exercise. There are no evidences whether anaerobic metabolism induced during isotonic maximal exercise can modify sweating rate. Aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between sweating and the anaerobic threshold (AT). Methods: The sweat rate in thirteen soccer players was measured by a sensor providing a continuous monitoring of sweating, whereas the anaerobic threshold was assessed with ergospirometry during maximal isotonic stress test. During stress test, cardio respiratory, metabolic and galvanic skin response (GSR) were also monitored. Results: At AT, stroke volume, heart rate and systolic blood pressure significantly increased (p<0.001), as well as GSR (p=0.04). Sweat rate abruptly increased at AT compared with rest (p<0.001). AT-to-rest changes in sweating rate were associated with concomitant changes in VO2 max (r=0.82, p<0.001), heart rate (r=0.73, p=0.04) and GSR (r=0.79, p=0.001). Conclusion: We suggest that aerobic-to-anaerobic switch is associated with a sudden increase in sweating likely induced by sympathetic activation. Considering the role of hydration in preserving the health status and optimizing the physical performance, we believe that this finding may have relevant practical implication in particular in soccer, which is characterized by an alternation of aerobic and anaerobic phases.