抄録
We examined the effect of lumbar warming on thermoregulatory responses in six elderly subjects (age 63-75y, mean b. w. 55.2kg) using a commercially available steaming pad (12x20cm, Kao Corp.) that can generate steam heat to raise local skin temperature up to 40C more than 5 h. After outfit of thermocouples on skin (10 points) and two ventilating capsules for perspiration (Perspiration meter SKD-2000, SKINOS) along with adjacent attachment of two probes of a laser Doppler flowmeter (Advance Laser Flowmeter, ALF21RD, Advance Co, Ltd.) on chest and back, each subject wearing hospital pajamas sits on chair for 15 min (control) followed by outfitting the pad on lower back region and then maintained it for another 60 min in thermoneutral environment (25C, 45%RH). Each skin region had different thermal response. After lumbar warming, the local skin temperature of foot, toe, hand, chest, back rose significantly, whereas that of leg fell by 1.9 and forehead also fell by 0.4 degree. Temperature of tympanic membrane was unchanged. Blood pressure and heart rate did not change significantly. Sweating was observed in three subjects and skin blood flow in adjacent region was simultaneously increased. All subjects reported feeling of warmth with great comfort during lumbar warming except chilly sensation at leg and thigh. These results suggest that thermal responses of the overall skin to lumbar warming may vary depending on body region, time course of warming and individual characteristics in regional circulation. [J Physiol Sci. 2007;57 Suppl:S189]
