Thermographic studies on patterns of skin temperature after exercise

Summary In six subjects thermograms of the thighs and the forearms were taken before, during and after 10 min ergometer exercise at 100 W at an ambient temperature of 23°C. During exercise, an intraindividually constant and reproducible skin temperature pattern with local temperature differences exceeding 3°C evolved. Reactions after external local cooling or after occlusion of blood flow and measurements with a laser Dopplerflow-meter showed dispersed convective heat transport to be the source of this irregular pattern. Temperature differences of 3.6°C and deviations of blood flow in the skin microcirculation of 300% within a distance of a few centimetres reduce the value of single-spot measurements of skin temperature with reference to the whole extremity.