WBGT 27℃와 32℃의 고온 다습 환경에서 운동과 휴식 시 피부 수분도 및 생리적 주관적 발한 반응에서의 연령차

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate physiological and subjective sweat responses of elderly and young males in hot and humid environments. Nine elderly and 11 young males participated in the following experimental conditions: WBGT 27℃ (Air temperature 30℃, and air humidity 70%RH) and WBGT 32℃ (35℃, 70%RH) with two activity levels (sitting on a chair for 60 min and walking on a treadmill for 60 min). The walking speeds were 4.0 km/hr for young males and 2.3 km/hr for elderly males. The results showed that 1) total sweating rate was 34.3% and 36.6% smaller for the elderly than for the young in WBGT 27℃ and 32℃, respectively (p<.05). Skin hydration at rest was less for the elderly than for the young in both WBGT 27℃ and 32-℃. The skin of the young males was quickly and evenly saturated throughout the whole body from the beginning in WBGT 32℃, whereas the elderly males’ skin was slowly and unevenly saturated. At rest, elderly males expressed greater humidity and sweat sensations in WBGT 27℃ than in WBGT 32℃ which was interpreted as perceptual confusions, while such perceptual confusions were not found during exercise in either WBGT 27℃ or WBGT 32℃. These results suggest that the elderly’s perspiration and other sweat responses in hot and humid environments were impaired psychologically as well as physiologically.