Increases in muscle temperature by hot water improve muscle contractile function and reduce motor unit discharge rates.

Increased core temperature evoked by 42°C hot-water immersion decreases MVC torque and VAL. However, a passive increase in muscle temperature improved evoked muscle contractile function (i.e., time to peak torque [after] and peak twitch torque [~15 min after]). Moreover, a passive increase in muscle temperature reduced the required MUDR to attain the same torque.