BIOMETRICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSES TO A LOCAL COLD-EXPOSURE OF THE EXTREMITIES

The aim of this study was firstly to describe the physiological respon ses observed in 19 subjects during immersion of the arm up to the elbo w in water at 5 degrees C (5 min) followed by a 10-min recovery and se condly, to correlate the observed physiological responses with biometr ical characteristics of the subjects (maximal oxygen uptake, VO2max, p ercentage fat content of whole body, BF, and arm, forearm and hand ski nfold thickness). The results showed that the time courses of changes in forearm and hand skin temperature were different compared to those of finger skin temperatures both during local cooling and during rewar ming (P <0.05). Cardiovascular responses (heart rate, systolic and dia stolic blood pressures) and finger skin temperatures were not related to the biometrical characteristics of the subjects. However, at the en d of the immersion, decreased hand skin temperature was correlated to VO2max (r=0.45, P less than or equal to 0.05) whereas decreased forear m skin temperature was correlated both to VO2max (r=0.44, P less than or equal to 0.05) and to skinfold thickness (r=-0.44, P less than or e qual to 0.05) but not to BF. During the beginning of the recovery peri od only, outside, inside forearm and hand skin temperatures were relat ed to VO2max r=0.54, P less than or equal to 0.05; r=0.66, P less than or equal to 0.01 and r=0.45, P less than or equal to 0.05, respective ly) and all the skinfold thicknesses (r= -0.47 to -0.71, P less than o r equal to 0.05). It was concluded that the local skin temperature pro files differed according to the upper limb segment both during cooling and during early rewarming. Moreover, VO2max and upper limb skinfold thickness but not BF did influence the forearm and hand skin temperatu re changes during cooling and early rewarming but not the finger skin temperature changes and cardiovascular responses.