抄録
We examined the effect of local shoulder skin warming on blood flow of trapezius muscle and shoulder skin in eight elderly subjects (73±2 yr), using a steaming pad (12cmx20cm, Kao Corp.). Muscle regional oxygenation that reflects muscle blood flow was measured as tissue oxygenated Hb concentration (dHbO2μmol/L) by non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRO-120, Hamamatsu Photonics). Skin temperature (9 points) and skin blood flow of shoulder were also measured with thermocouples and laser Doppler flowmeter(Advance), respectively. Subjects sit on the chair for 10 min (control period) followed by shoulder warming with the steaming pad (30min) and removal of the pad (20min) in the thermoneutral environment (25°C, 45%RH). By warming, shoulder skin temperature increased from 33.1 to 40.0°C. The regional oxygenation of trapezius muscle increased by 3.8 μmol/L, and the sholder skin blood flow increased from 2.9 to 8.5 ml/min/100g. Local skin temperatures increased at toe (+0.9°C), hand (+0.5°C), chest (+0.7°C) and finger (+0.3°C), whereas, leg temperature fell by 0.7 °C. Tympanic temperature was unchanged. Systolic blood pressure decreased significantly from 137 to 123 mmHg, whereas diastolic pressure and heart rate did not change. There was a negative correlation between initial mean blood pressure and the increment of trapezius HbO2. These results suggest that the thermal (steaming) stimulus on shoulder skin can elicit increases in the regional circulation of the muscle and the skin and in skin temperature of the periphery of extremities. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S53]
