The present study was performed to determine the effect of clothing condition on the thermoregulation in exercise. Three healthy adult males pedalled a bicycle ergometer at moderate load for 45 minutes under each of four clothing conditions, wearing only shorts (Control), only long sleeve upper wear (Condition I), only long pants (Condition II) and both wears (Condition M), in September and October. Rectal temperature (Tre) was taken, and also heart rate continuously recorded to calculate VO₂. Local sweat samples (LS) from chest, back, forearm and thigh were collected, and total body sweat rate (SR) secreted on whole body surface area was measured. All the clothing conditions resulted in greater SR, LS, ΔTre and heat production than the control condition, especially Condition M. The subject having comparatively large difference in sweating rate between the trunk and the limbs showed an effective thermoregulation in Condition II, as compared in Condition I, and vice versa on another subject having small difference. These results suggested that the clothing condition might influence the thermoregulation in exercise, depending on the individual characteristic of regional difference in sweating reaction.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.3/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE