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Human Protection and Performance, Defence and Civil Institute of Environmental Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3M 3B9
There is a need
for a hand-heating system that will keep the hands warm during cold
exposure without hampering finger dexterity. The purpose of this study
was to examine the effects of torso heating on the vasodilative
responses and comfort levels of cooled extremities during a 3-h
exposure to
15°C air. Subjects were insulated, but their
upper extremities were left exposed to the cold ambient air. The effect
of heating the torso [torso-heating test (THT)] on hand
comfort was compared with a control condition in which no torso heating
was applied, but Arctic mitts were worn [control test
(CT)]. The results indicate that mean finger temperature, mean
finger blood flow, mean toe temperature, mean body skin temperature, body thermal comfort, mean finger thermal comfort, and rate of body
heat storage were all significantly (P < 0.05) higher on average (n = 6)
during THT. Mean body heat flow was significantly (P < 0.05) lower during THT. There
were no significant differences (P
0.05) in rectal temperature between CT and THT. Mean unheated body skin
temperature and mean unheated body heat flow (both of which did not
include the torso area in the calculation of mean body skin temperature
and mean body heat flow) were also calculated. There were no
significant differences (P
0.05) in
mean unheated body skin temperature and mean unheated body heat flow
between CT and THT. It is concluded that the application of heat to the torso can maintain finger and toe comfort for an extended period of
time during cold exposure.
protection of extremities; foot comfort; body heat transfer; local cold stress; torso heating
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