Environmental factors and exercise

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Influence of different environmental factors on exercise

Last updated: 07/11/24

The characteristics of environmental factors:

- Chemical safety

- Air pollution

- Climate change and natural disasters

- Diseases caused by microbes

- Lack of access to health care

- Infrastructure issues

- Poor water quality

- Global environmental issues

What are the impacts of these environmental influences on physical activity?

An individual may be restricted to a certain range of physical activities which they can participate in. Individuals are usually reliant on the surrounding environment and the maintenance of facilities. If they are not kept well maintained, individuals are usually discouraged.

The physiological effect on training:

Climate change will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable in our populations, including the very young, the very old, and those with pre-existing health conditions.

Training adjustments to compensate for the influence of environmental factors on training:

- Treatments for heat stress- stop exercising / move to a shaded or air-conditioned area / remove excess clothing or equipment / drink cold beverages / sit in front of a fan / put a cool piece of cloth around neck / place entire body in cool water e.g. cool bath or shower

- Treatments for cold stress- move to a warm environment / remove cold and wet clothes / find access to warm air such as heaters, or fireplace / use electric or non-electric blankets / drink warm beverages

Written by Kushwant Nathoo