Cheek skin temperature and thermal resistance in active and inactive individuals during exposure to cold wind

• Published in: Journal of thermal biology Vol. 29; no. 7; pp. 831 - 837
• Main Authors: Brajkovic, Dragan, Ducharme, Michel B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2004
• Subjects: Cheek thermal resistance; Cold exposure; Core temperature; Exercise; Face skin temperature; Face skin temperature; Cheek thermal resistance; Exercise; Core temperature; Cold exposure
• ISSN: 0306-4565; 1879-0992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2004.08.068

1. The present study examined the effect of the thermal state of the body (as reflected by rectal temperature) on cheek skin temperature and thermal resistance in active and inactive subjects. 2. Active subjects were exposed to a 30 min conditioning period (CP) (0 °C air with a 2 m/s wind), followed immediately by a 30 min experimental period (EP) (0 °C with a 5 m/s wind). Inactive subjects were exposed to a 30 min CP (22 °C air with no wind), followed immediately by a 45 min EP (0 °C air with a 4.5 m/s wind). The CP period was used to establish a core temperature difference between the active and inactive subjects prior to the start of EP. The 0 °C exposure was replaced with a −10 °C ambient air exposure and the experiment was repeated on a separate day. Subjects were comfortably dressed for each ambient condition. 3. Cheek skin temperature was not significantly higher in active subjects when compared to inactive subjects, but thermal resistance was higher in active subjects. 4. Cheek skin temperature and thermal resistance both decreased as ambient temperature decreased from 0 to −10 °C. The lower cheek thermal resistance at −10 °C may have been due to a greater cheek blood flow as a result of cold-induced vasodilation.