Welcome to another edition of Pelotan Performance Insights! At the end of the Tour de France, it’s impossible not to question how the riders are able to stave off fatigue and drop in endurance after 21 epic stages. So right on cue, this week, we’re examining whether prolonged UV exposure affects muscle fatigue and overall endurance, and how sunscreen might mitigate these effects.

The Impact of UV Exposure on Muscle Fatigue and Endurance

While the physical demands of intense activities are often discussed, the impact of prolonged UV exposure on muscle fatigue and endurance is an emerging area of interest. We’ve outlined some of the ways in which excessive, unprotected UV exposure can impact muscle fatigue and endurance:

1. Oxidative Stress: UV radiation generates free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. This oxidative damage can impair muscle recovery and function, resulting in increased fatigue and reduced endurance.
• Free Radical Formation: UV exposure leads to the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the skin. These ROS can damage cellular components, including lipids, proteins, and DNA, contributing to oxidative stress.
• Impact on Muscles: Oxidative stress can impair muscle repair and recovery, increasing fatigue and reducing overall performance. A study in the European Journal of Sport Science highlighted that oxidative stress from UV exposure could exacerbate muscle damage and slow down recovery in endurance athletes (more on recovery next week).
2. Photodegradation of Nutrients:
• Vitamin Depletion: Prolonged UV exposure can degrade essential vitamins such as vitamin A and vitamin E in the skin. These vitamins are crucial for muscle repair and recovery. Their depletion can lead to slower recovery times and increased muscle fatigue.
• Protein Damage: UV radiation can damage proteins in the skin and muscles, impairing muscle function and endurance.
3. Reduced Blood Flow: UV exposure can cause vasoconstriction, reducing blood flow to the skin and muscles. Reduced blood flow can impair oxygen and nutrient delivery to muscles, leading to increased fatigue and decreased endurance.
4. Skin Damage and Discomfort: Sunburn and skin irritation can distract athletes, causing discomfort and hindering focus and performance. A study published in the Journal of Sports Sciences indicated that pain from sunburn can act as a significant distractor, reducing cognitive focus and physical performance during athletic activities, whilst Research in the Journal of Applied Physiology showed that athletes with sunburned skin had decreased endurance performance.
5. Increased Core Body Temperature: We covered this in detail in the last Performance Insights, which you can check out on the blog.

How Pelotan Can Help

1. Reducing Oxidative Stress: Sunscreen shields the skin from UV-induced free radicals, decreasing oxidative stress and aiding in muscle recovery and function.
• Enhanced Recovery: By reducing the oxidative burden on the body, sunscreen helps in quicker muscle recovery, allowing athletes to train more consistently and effectively.
2. Protecting the Skin Barrier: by providing effective protection from excessive UV exposure in sports, Pelotan helps protect against the degradation of essential vitamins and proteins, supporting muscle repair and recovery.
3. Preventing Vasoconstriction: Pelotan helps prevent UV-induced vasoconstriction, ensuring adequate blood flow to the muscles and supporting optimal oxygen and nutrient delivery.
4. Enhancing Comfort: Pelotan’s lightweight, non-greasy formula ensures that skin irritation and discomfort are minimized, allowing athletes to stay focused on their performance.
5. Regulating Core Body Temperature: High-performance sunscreens like Pelotan can reduce the amount of heat absorbed and enable proper cooling, helping to maintain a lower core body temperature and reducing heat stress.

Incorporating sunscreen into your training and competition routine is more than just sun protection. It’s about optimizing performance, reducing fatigue, and enhancing endurance. Pelotan’s advanced formulation ensures you stay protected and perform at your peak, even under the most challenging conditions.