高齢者のための快適保温補助具に関する研究-下腿部保温補助具レッグウォーマーの実用化とその評価-

1993 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 05558004
• Research Institution: Osaka Shin-ai College
• Principal Investigator: 川端 厚子 大阪信愛女学院短期大学, 生活文化学科, 助教授 (30167358)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 石倉 信作 大阪府立産業技術総合研究所生産技術部, 主任研究員
• Keywords: laser doppler flowmeter / leg wamer / thermoregulatory responses / rectal temperatures / thermography / clothing microclimate / skin temperature / pressure sweat reflex

Research Abstract

Elderly people are susceptible to cold weather in winter and frequently suffer from influenza or chilly waist.This is due to the weakened thermoregulatory responses which is caused by the senile skin cells.Therefore,we conducted an experiment to clarify whether dressing leg warmer could have a bodily warming effect or not.The experiment was carried out by the subjects wearing or not.The experiment was carried out by the subjects wearing a brassiere,underpants and leg warmer in the room of regulated temperature 22±1℃ and humidity 50±5%RH.They kept sitting still and their skin temperatures,clothing microclimate(temperatures and humidities),rectal temperatures,heart rates and the amount of blood flow were measured.Thermography was also taken during the experiment.
Major results were as follows;Dressing leg warmer increased the blood flow of upper extremities,rose the skin temperature of chest,back and palms and decrease the rectal temperatures.Elderly people also commented that they felt warmer while wearing leg warmer.
Leg skin temperatures are warmed by dressing leg warmer.Therefore,warm spots in the leg are stimulated,resulting in the excitement of vasomotor center in the brain,in the cutaneous vasodilatation of the extremities,and in the increase of blood flow in these areas and of skin temperatures in hands and feet.Thus,the increase of skin temperatures in hands and feet induces the increment of dry heat loss from these areas to surroundings,resulting in the fall of deep body temperature.