Contact skin temperature measurements and associated effects of obstructing local sweat evaporation during mild exercise-induced heat stress

The use of infrared thermography for the dynamic measurement of skin temperature of moving athletes during competition; methodological issues

Objective. To investigate the use of infrared thermography (IRT) for skin temperature measurement of moving athletes during competition and its sensitivity to factors that are traditionally standardised.Approach. Thermograms were collected for 18 female athletes during the 20 km racewalk at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, with a medium-wave, cooled indium antimonide medium wave infrared band (MWIR) and a long-wave, uncooled microbolometer longwave infrared band (LWIR) infrared camera.Main results. The MWIR provided greater clarity images of motion due to a shorter exposure and response time and produced a higher percentage of acceptable images. Analysing acceptable images only, the LWIR and WMIR produced good levels of agreement, with a bias of -0.1 ± 0.6 °C in mean skin temperature for the LWIR. As the surface area of an ROI was reduced, the measured temperature became less representative of the whole ROI. Compared to measuring the whole area ROI, a single central pixel produced a bias of 0.3 ± 0.3 °C (MWIR) and 0.1 ± 0.4 °C (LWIR) whilst using the maximum and minimum temperature pixels resulted in deviations of 1.3 ± 0.4 °C and -1.1 ± 0.3 °C (MWIR) and 1.2 ± 0.3 °C and -1.3 ± 0.4 °C (LWIR). The sensitivity to air and reflected temperatures was lower for the LWIR camera, due to the higher emissivity of skin in its wavelength.Significance. IRT provides an appropriate tool for the measurement of skin temperature during real-world competition and critically during athlete motion. The cheaper LWIR camera provides a feasible alternative to the MWIR in low rate of motion scenarios, with comparable precision and sensitivity to analysis. However, the LWIR is limited when higher speeds prevent the accurate measurement and ability to capture motion.

A Thermal Skin Model for Comparing Contact Skin Temperature Sensors and Assessing Measurement Errors

To improve the measurement and subsequent use of human skin temperature (Tsk) data, there is a need for practical methods to compare Tsk sensors and to quantify and better understand measurement error. We sought to develop, evaluate, and utilize a skin model with skin-like thermal properties as a tool for benchtop Tsk sensor comparisons and assessments of local temperature disturbance and sensor bias over a range of surface temperatures. Inter-sensor comparisons performed on the model were compared to measurements performed in vivo, where 14 adult males completed an experimental session involving rest and cycling exercise. Three types of Tsk sensors (two of them commercially available and one custom made) were investigated. Skin-model-derived inter-sensor differences were similar (within ±0.4 °C) to the human trial when comparing the two commercial Tsk sensors, but not for the custom Tsk sensor. Using the skin model, all surface Tsk sensors caused a local temperature disturbance with the magnitude and direction dependent upon the sensor and attachment and linearly related to the surface-to-environment temperature gradient. Likewise, surface Tsk sensors also showed bias from both the underlying disturbed surface temperature and that same surface in its otherwise undisturbed state. This work supports the development and use of increasingly realistic benchtop skin models for practical Tsk sensor comparisons and for identifying potential measurement errors, both of which are important for future Tsk sensor design, characterization, correction, and end use.

The effect of short and continuous absorbent patch application on local skin temperature underneath

Objective. By attaching absorbent patches to the skin to collect sweat, an increase in local skin temperature (T_sk) underneath the patches seems unavoidable. Yet this effect has not been quantified. The present study investigates the effect of absorbent patch application on localT_skunderneath.Approach. Ten healthy participants cycled for 60 min at an exercise intensity relative to their body surface area (40 W.m^-2) in three environmental conditions (temperate: 25 °C 45% RH, hot-humid: 33 °C 65% RH and hot-dry: 40 °C 30% RH). The effect of short sweat sampling (i.e. from min 25-30 to min 55-60) onT_skwas examined on the right scapula.T_skof the left scapula served as control. The effect of continuous sweat sampling (i.e. four consecutive 15 min periods) onT_skwas examined on the right upper arm.T_skof the left upper arm served as control.Main results. Neither short nor continuous application of absorbent sweat patches affectedT_skunderneath the patches in the hot-humid and hot-dry condition (P > 0.05). In the temperate condition, continuous application led to a significant increase inT_skunderneath the patches during the first and second minute. This increase remained throughout the experiment (1.8 ± 0.6 °C;P < 0.001). Short application of sweat patches did not affect the localT_skunderneath (P > 0.05) in the temperate condition.Significance. To avoid a significant increase in localT_skunderneath sweat patches, continuous application should be prevented in, especially, a temperate condition. Timely removal of sweat patches should be taken into account during longer periods of collecting sweat in field or laboratories settings.