The Effects of Aging on the Skin Blood Response to Warm, Cold, and Contrast Warm and Cold Baths

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the effects of aging on the ability of contrast baths to increase the circulation in the skin of the foot compared with immersion in a continuous warm water bath of the same temperature as the warm component of the contrast bath.Methods: A laser Doppler flow meter was used to assess skin blood flow on the dorsal and plantar aspects of the foot during immersion in a warm bath (100°F (37.8°C)) compared with contrast baths with a ratio of 3 minutes of warm (100°F (37.8°C)) and 1 minute of cold (60°F (15.6°C)); the cycle was repeated for 16 minutes. Fourteen participants whose average age was 55.1 ± 9.1 years were examined and compared with 12 younger participants whose average age was 23.9 ± 5.8 years.Results: For both groups of participants, the use of alternating hot and cold bath temperatures elicited an increase in skin blood flow above that which was found with warm water immersion alone. The greatest response was in the younger participants. For the older participants, skin blood flow was approximately one-third less than that seen in the younger participants with either continuous warm water immersion or contrast baths. These same results were seen on the dorsal and plantar aspects of the foot, indicating diminished circulation in both areas with aging.Conclusion: We conclude that contrast baths do increase circulation in the skin in the foot of older individuals but the response was less than that of younger people.