Abstract
The influence of extremities differently insulated by clothing on the core temperature under experimental conditions simulating actual indoor life was studied with six healthy females at the follicular phase of their menstrual cycles in a climatic chamber at ambient temperature (Ta) ranging from 20 to 25°C and 50% R.H. The subjects wore either Type A clothing (covering almost the whole body, 911 g) or Type B (covering mainly the trunk, the upper arms and the thighs, 631 g). Thereafter, they were exposed to various conditions of rest, exercise and change of air temperature from 10 : 30 to 17 : 00. Major findings obtained are as follows : 1) A higher rectal temperature (Tie) was maintained with Type A than Type B during 30 min of exercise on a treadmill. 2) The decrease rate for Tie was greater with Type A than with Type B during recovery. 3) When Ta was lowered from 25 to 20°C, the level of Tie was higher and its increase rate was greater with Type B than with Type A. These findings confirmed those obtained in our previous studies, which were carried out under defined experimental conditions, suggesting that the mechanisms functioning with Type A and Type B clothing could also be valid in conditions simulating indoor daily life during the daytime.
