The effect of raw material composition of clothes on selected physiological parameters of human organism

Abstract

Present studies were undertaken to determine the influence of clothing made from natural and synthetic fibres and their blends, which transiently covered a human body, on the activity of motor units of forearm muscles determined by electromyographic method. The clothes made out of 100% linen, 100% polyester (PES) and their blends with a different percentage of both kinds of raw material were examined. The studies proved that there were considerable changes in the parameters of skin–clothes microclimate that depend on the share of polyester fibres in the blends with linen. These changes can be the reason of differences in electromyographic records of motor unit activity of the muscles covered by tested clothes, even if the volunteers taking part in this experiment had not been doing any physical exercises. The results of tests showed that clothing made from polyester fabric was a reason of changes in muscle electromyograph (EMG) records of the wearers, which indicated occurrence of desynchronization of motor units. The clothes made of fabrics composed of polyester and linen fibres higher than 25% did not cause desynchronization of motor units in healthy muscles while providing the wearer with optimal comfort of using.