Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to examine regional skin temperatures in recreational female surfers’ wearing a 2 mm thick neoprene wetsuit while surfing and to compare these results to previously published data collected in males participating in an identical study. Female surfers (n = 27) engaged in surfing for at least 40 min while wearing a commercially available 2 mm full wetsuit. Skin temperature of eight different anatomical locations were measured with wireless iButton thermal sensors. Regional skin temperatures significantly differed (p < 0.001) across almost all anatomical regions. Furthermore, regional skin temperatures significantly decreased across time at all skin regions throughout an average surfing session (p < 0.001). The greatest reduction in skin temperature was observed in the lower leg (−5.4 °C). Females in the current study exhibited a significantly greater skin temperature decrease in the lower back (−15.2% vs. −10.8%, p = 0.022) and lower arm (−13.6% vs. −10.8%, p < 0.001) when compared to previous data published in males. Overall, results of the current study are consistent with data previously published on male recreational surfers. However, the current study provides preliminary evidence that the magnitude of change in skin temperature may differ between male and female recreational surfers at some anatomical locations.
Highlights
Participation in the sport of surfing has increased significantly over the past century and, as a result, surfers have exposed themselves to more extreme conditions in search of the perfect wave [1,2,3].Many of these athletes surf in cold water and ambient air temperatures, which require them to wear wetsuits in an attempt to create a thermal barrier and maintain normothermia [4]
The increased participation of females surfing in cold water environments has made neoprene wetsuits a standard piece of surfing equipment
The findings from this study demonstrate for the first time that regional skin temperatures of female recreational surfers significantly differ across most anatomical regions studied
Summary
Participation in the sport of surfing has increased significantly over the past century and, as a result, surfers have exposed themselves to more extreme conditions in search of the perfect wave [1,2,3]. In response to cold stress, females generally exhibit a decrease in maximum heat production generated by either shivering or exercise [18], lower mean skin temperatures resulting in increased body heat debt [19,20], and accelerated rate of extremity cooling [21] Potential mechanisms for these responses include lower total body mass, greater relative body fat percent [22], differences in body fat distribution [23], lower skeletal muscle mass [23,24], and decreased arterial flow to the hands and feet [21] compared to males. The secondary hypothesis of the study was that females would have overall greater heat loss when compared to previously reported data in males that participated in an identical research protocol
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