Fall in skin temperature during exercise.

Abstract

During light work using the arm in a warm environment, skin temperatures of the arms and chest fell and remained at lower levels during work. The fall in skin temperature during work was not observed in a cool environment. The fall in skin temperature was nearly proportional to work intensity and was observed in both static and dynamic work. Leg work of moderate intensity produced an initial decline and a subsequent rise in skin temperatures of the hands, thighs and legs. A significant fall in skin temperature was observed not only in the foot but also in inactive regions such as the epigastrium. The mean skin temperature remained practically unchanged during work. The fall in skin temperature during work was not due to increased evaporative cooling, but was the result of segmental vasoconstriction probably caused as a reflex in the spinal cord by non-thermal afferents from exercising muscles or moving tissues. The effect of thermoregulatory vasodilation was reduced by the reflex vasoconstriction caused by non-thermal factors. The rise in internal temperature during work could be explained by decreased heat loss due to persistently lower skin temperature.