Citation

Song W, Wang F. Ergonomics 2015; 59(8): 1009-1018.

Affiliation

Department of Apparel Design and Engineering , Soochow University , Suzhou 215021 , China.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/00140139.2015.1105305

PMID

26457872

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a hybrid personal cooling system (PCS) in mitigating body heat stain while exercising in a hot environment. Eight subjects underwent two trials: PCS and CON (i.e., no cooling). All trials were conducted at an air temperature of 36±0.5 °C and RH=59±5%. The key findings demonstrated that the PCS could significantly reduce the core temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate and physiological strain index during both exercise and recovery periods (p<0.05). Subjective perceptions were also significantly alleviated in PCS at the end of the exercise and during the recovery (p<0.05). Besides, the PCS could also bring remarkable benefits in lowering local skin temperatures and in improving perceptual sensations in both upper and lower body during both exercise and recovery periods (p<0.05). It was thus concluded that the hybrid PCS is effective in mitigating body heat strain while exercising in a hot environment.

Language: en