Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the physiological effects of chair cover using far infrared radiation fabric. Experiments were conducted in a climatic chamber maintained at 22°C with a relative humidity of 50 %. Nine male students were instructed to sit in a chair for 60 minutes. Polyester 65%・Cotton 35% (Weave: Broadcloth) (BLANK) and far infrared radiation fabric printed with natural nephrite on the same clothes (FIR) were used as the chair covers. We measured Electrocardiogram, skin temperatures, rectal temperature, shoulder blood flow, thermal sensations, and Jikaku-sho Shirabe. The results were as follows: (1) The shoulder blood flow increased significantly in FIR compared with in BLANK. (2) The whole body, upper back, and foot thermal sensations were higher in FIR than in BLANK. (3) The shoulder blood flow showed significant positive correlations with upper back, shoulder, and foot thermal sensations. (4) The skin temperatures and rectal temperature in both FIR and BLANK decreased significantly with time. These results suggest that constricting blood flow in the shoulders caused by sitting posture for a long time can be relieved by the use of FIR chair cover.
