Deren, Tomasz2012-01-262012-01-2620122012http://hdl.handle.net/10393/20644http://dx.doi.org/10.20381/ruor-5348This thesis examined why NCAA Division 1 American football “linemen” experience greater heat strain than “backs” during summer training camps. In study #1, exercise at a heat production of 350 W/m2 in a hot environment (Tdb:32.4±1.0ºC; Twb:26.3±0.6ºC) resulted in greater local sweating on the upper body (head, arm, shoulder and chest; all <0.05) and a greater core temperature (P=0.033) in linemen despite a ~25% lower heat production per unit mass (L:6.0±0.5 W/kg; B:8.2±0.8 W/kg). In study #2, greater convective and evaporative heat transfer coefficients (P<0.05) were found in backs during live summer training camp drills, but these did not lead to a greater dry heat transfer or evaporative capacity. However, the maximum metabolic rate per unit mass was lower in linemen due to differences surface area-to-mass ratio. In conclusion, the greater heat strain previously reported in linemen likely arises, in part, from differences in sweating efficiency and body morphology.  enThermoregulationCore TemperatureFootballSweatingMorphologyTraining CampBacksLinemenHeat StressHeat StrokeConvectionAn Analysis of Thermoregulatory Sweating and Heat Balance in American Football Linemen and BacksThesis