Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between thermal perceptions during human wear trials and thermal foot manikin measurements of heat and vapour resistance for five running shoes varying in material and construction. Measurements of thermal/evaporative resistance were performed using a 12-zone sweating thermal-foot manikin. Eleven males performed running trials on five occasions, wearing shoes of same design, differing in materials and construction, to achieve a range of heat/vapour resistances and air permeabilities. Trials in 20°C/60% RH consisted of three phases: 15 min rest, 40 min running, 15 min recovery. In-shoe temperature/humidity were measured at two sites on the left foot. Thermal sensation/wetness perception/thermal comfort were provided for the left foot and four foot regions. Variations in shoe material and construction resulted in differences in thermal and evaporative resistance. These differences were reflected in in-shoe temperature and in-shoe absolute humidity assessed during wear trials. At the end of the rest period, thermal sensation was strongly related to thermal insulation ( r2 = 0.69, p<0.001). During exercise however, thermal sensation, wetness perception and thermal discomfort were related to both thermal insulation and evaporative resistance. Thermal foot manikins provide a sensitive, effective evaluation of footwear thermal properties, which are also reflective of changes to in-shoe parameters during actual use. This discriminate power may be enhanced using higher, more realistic air-speeds during testing, as well as simulating foot movement. While thermal foot manikins are highly sensitive to design features/attributes of footwear (e.g. ventilation openings, air-permeabilities and coatings), subjective evaluations of footwear do not seem to have the same sensitivity and discriminative power.
Highlights
IntroductionIn warm environments and with physical activity, increased delivery of warm blood to the foot causes elevations in foot skin temperature, impacting the temperature profile within footwear.[4] heat loss can be aided through the evaporation of sweat, containment of the foot within the shoe negatively impacts evaporative heat transfer.[5,6,7] heat input into the foot tends to exceed heat loss from the foot, causing a progressive increase in foot temperature, foot skin temperature and shoe microclimate variables (in-shoe temperature and in-shoe humidity)
The thermal properties of footwear are important characteristics, which in addition to the mechanical properties of footwear determine the level of comfort experienced by the wearer.[1,2,3,4] Little published information with regard to how the thermal properties of shoes influence perceptions of comfort is available,[1,2,4] despite it being known that, like clothing, footwear acts as a barrier to heat and moisture transfer from the skin to the environment.In warm environments and with physical activity, increased delivery of warm blood to the foot causes elevations in foot skin temperature, impacting the temperature profile within footwear.[4]
The ventilation openings in the midsole and sock liner of MUo had little effect on evaporative resistance when compared to MUc (19.8 vs 19.7 m2ÁPa W21, respectively)
Summary
In warm environments and with physical activity, increased delivery of warm blood to the foot causes elevations in foot skin temperature, impacting the temperature profile within footwear.[4] heat loss can be aided through the evaporation of sweat, containment of the foot within the shoe negatively impacts evaporative heat transfer.[5,6,7] heat input into the foot tends to exceed heat loss from the foot, causing a progressive increase in foot temperature, foot skin temperature and shoe microclimate variables (in-shoe temperature and in-shoe humidity).
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