Display options
Cite
Ketko I, Druyan A, Yanovich R, et al. Return to duty/play after exertional heat injury: do we have all the answers? A lesson from two case studies. Disaster Mil Med. 2015;1:18doi: 10.1186/s40696-015-0010-3.
Ketko, I., Druyan, A., Yanovich, R., Epstein, Y., & Heled, Y. (2015). Return to duty/play after exertional heat injury: do we have all the answers? A lesson from two case studies. Disaster and military medicine, 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40696-015-0010-3
Ketko, Itay, et al. "Return to duty/play after exertional heat injury: do we have all the answers? A lesson from two case studies." Disaster and military medicine vol. 1 (2015): 18. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40696-015-0010-3
Ketko I, Druyan A, Yanovich R, Epstein Y, Heled Y. Return to duty/play after exertional heat injury: do we have all the answers? A lesson from two case studies. Disaster Mil Med. 2015 Dec 01;1:18. doi: 10.1186/s40696-015-0010-3. eCollection 2015. PMID: 28265433; PMCID: PMC5329924.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Disaster Mil Med. 2015 Dec 01;1:18. doi: 10.1186/s40696-015-0010-3. eCollection 2015.

Return to duty/play after exertional heat injury: do we have all the answers? A lesson from two case studies.

Disaster and military medicine

Itay Ketko, Amit Druyan, Ran Yanovich, Yoram Epstein, Yuval Heled

Affiliations

  1. The Warrior Health Research Institute, Israel Defense Forces, Medical Corps, Ramat Gan, Israel.
  2. Heller Institute of Medical Research, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel.
  3. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

PMID: 28265433 PMCID: PMC5329924 DOI: 10.1186/s40696-015-0010-3

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The common practice in the Israel defense Forces is that exertional heat related injury patients undergo a heat tolerance test 6-8 weeks post event as part of the "return to duty" process. In the case of a positive heat tolerance test the individual is classified as heat intolerant, in some cases however, the thermoregulatory recovery may be longer (several months), and therefore a second heat tolerance test is scheduled 6-8 weeks later. The presented case reports emphasize the possibility of different recovery periods of the thermoregulatory center and the distinction between congenital and acquired physiological heat intolerance.

CASE DESCRIPTION: Two young healthy males (A and B) were diagnosed with exertional heat related injury during a pre-recruitment sorting process. Both underwent a heat tolerance test, and were found heat intolerant. During the next months they repeated the test several times. Patient A was finally diagnosed as heat tolerant and patient B was diagnosed as heat intolerant.

CONCLUSION: Susceptibility to heat is a significant determinant for active young people such as athletes and soldiers. Both cases emphasize the importance of the heat tolerance test (and repeated test when needed) as a criteria for an exertional heat related injury patient to return to duty/play and to perform intense physical activities. These cases also emphasize the effectiveness and sensitivity of the test in identifying a temporary and a permanent state of heat intolerance.

Keywords: Exercise; Heat injury; Heat tolerance test; Thermoregulation

References

  1. J Sport Rehabil. 2007 Aug;16(3):215-21 - PubMed
  2. N Engl J Med. 2002 Jun 20;346(25):1978-88 - PubMed
  3. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999 Feb;31(2):224-8 - PubMed
  4. J Sport Rehabil. 2007 Aug;16(3):227-37 - PubMed
  5. Isr J Med Sci. 1995 Jul;31(7):454-62 - PubMed
  6. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990 Feb;22(1):29-35 - PubMed
  7. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010 Sep-Oct;9(5):314-21 - PubMed
  8. Ann Intern Med. 1979 Jun;90(6):913-6 - PubMed
  9. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990 Feb;22(1):36-48 - PubMed
  10. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990 Feb;22(1):6-14 - PubMed
  11. Med Sci Monit. 2004 Jun;10(6):CR252-7 - PubMed

Publication Types