Elucidation of the mechanisms of hypothermia during exercise - Focusing on the thermal sensation during exercise

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K24280
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0909:Sports sciences, physical education, health sciences, and related fields
• Research Institution: Niigata University of Health and Welfare (2020-2021); University of Tsukuba (2019)
• Principal Investigator: Fujimoto Tomomi 新潟医療福祉大学, 健康科学部, 講師 (70847798)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-08-30 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 運動時低体温症 / ふるえ / 温度感覚 / 運動指令 / 筋機械受容器

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we focused on the possibility that thermal input from the skin and deep body parts changes during exercise as one of the triggering mechanisms of exercise-induced hypothermia, and examined the effects of exercise and execise-related central commands and muscle mechanoreceptor function on tehrmal sensation during normothermia and hypothermia.
Our results suggest that 1) whole-body thermal sensation, especially during hypothermia, is blunted during exercise, and 2) exercise-related commands and activation of muscle mechanoreceptors may not affect whole-body and skin thermal sensations during normothermia.

Free Research Field

運動生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ヒトが寒さから身を守る行動には身体各部からの温度情報を基に寒さを感じることが重要である。我々の研究結果から、運動中には体温が低下しても“寒い”という感覚を感じにくくなることが運動時低体温症の発症メカニズムである可能性が示唆された。しかしながら、この温度感覚の鈍化には運動指令や筋機械受容器といった運動関連要因は関連しない可能性が示唆された。これらより、運動時低体温症を防ぐためには、事前に体温を十分に高めておくことや、寒さを感じる前に上着を着用し体温の低下を防ぐことが重要であることが示唆されます。