Augmentation of blood circulation to the fingers by warming distant body areas |
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| Authors: | Victor S Koscheyev Gloria R Leon Saurav Paul Donna Tranchida Inna V Linder |
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| Institution: | (1) Division of Kinesiology, University of Minnesota, 110 Cooke Hall, 1900 University Ave. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA e-mail: kosch002@tc.umn.edu; Fax: +1-612-6251061, US;(2) Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, US;(3) Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, US |
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| Abstract: | Future activities in space will require greater periods of time in extreme environments in which the body periphery will
be vulnerable to chilling. Maintaining the hands and fingers in comfortable conditions enhances finger flexibility and dexterity,
and thus effects better work performance. We have evaluated the efficacy of promoting heat transfer and release by the extremities
by increasing the blood flow to the periphery from more distant parts of the body. The experimental garment paradigm developed
by the investigators was used to manipulate the temperature of different body areas. Six subjects, two females and four males,
were evaluated in a stage-1 baseline condition, with the inlet temperature of the circulating water in the liquid cooling/warming
garment (LCWG) at 33 °C. At stage 2 the total LCWG water inlet temperature was cooled to 8 °C, and at stage 3 the inlet water
temperature in specific segments of the LCWG was warmed (according to protocol) to 45 °C, while the inlet temperature in the
rest of the LCWG was maintained at 8 °C. The following four body- area-warming conditions were studied in separate sessions:
(1) head, (2) upper torso/arm, (3) upper torso/arm/head, and (4) legs/feet. Skin temperature, heat flux and blood perfusion
of the fingers, and subjective perception of thermal sensations and overall physical comfort were assessed. Finger temperature
(T
fing) analyses showed a statistically significant condition × stage interaction. Post-hoc comparisons (T
fing) indicated that at stage 3, the upper torso/arm/head warming condition was significantly different from the head, upper torso/arm
and legs/feet conditions, showing an increase in T
fing. There was a significant increase in blood perfusion in the fingers at stage 3 in all conditions. Subjective perception of
hand warmth, and overall physical comfort level significantly increased in the stage 3 upper torso/arm/head condition. The
findings indicate that physiological methods to enhance heat transfer by the blood to the periphery within protective clothing
provide an additional tool for increasing total and local human comfort in extreme environments.
Accepted: 20 December 1999 |
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| Keywords: | Thermoregulation Nonuniform temperatures Finger comfort Extreme environments |
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