The purpose of the present study was to investigate a correlation between peripheral skin blood flow and thermal sensation during exercise in a cold environment. The climatic chamber was conditioned at operative temperature of 15.0±1℃, Δrelative humidity of 60.0±5%, and still air. Seven healthy untrained females exercised at the heart rate levels of 100bpm, 110bpm and 120bpm by use of bicycle ergometer. The experiments were performed for 45 minutes, 5 minutes of rest, 30 minutes of exercise and 10 minutes of recovery. Tympanic temperature, mean skin temperature, finger skin temperature and skin blood flow were measured and thermal sensation were voted simultaneously by subjects every 5 minutes during exercise. Tympanic temperature was slightly increased, but mean skin temperature was decreased during exercise. The slight increase of tympanic temperature influenced thermal sensation of the body. The finger skin temperature gradually decreased by 4℃ for 8 minutes after the start of exercise. The skin blood flow measured by laser-Doppler flowmeter suddenly decreased by 0.5〜1.0V at the start of exercise. These decreases seems to be influenced by non-thermal factor. And especially, cold sensation of the hand definitely enhanced during exercise of 100bpm. There was a significant correlation between thermal sensation and, finger skin temperature and skin blood flow, respectively (R=0.767, 0.766). These results suggest that the decreased skin blood flow after the onset of exercise caused colder sensation of the hand in a cold.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.22/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE