• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.633-639
• /
• 2010

This study was carried out to compare human thermoregulatory responses and preferred air temperature by feet immersion between summer and winter in terms of thermal comfort. Five healthy female university students participated in the study as subjects. They experienced feet immersion at $40^{\circ}C$ of water in the climatic chamber of $24^{\circ}C$, 50%RH from 19:30 to 21:00 in the summer and winter, respectively. Rectal temperature gradually decreased and maintained $0.08^{\circ}C$ lower in winter than summer, while mean skin temperature changed $0.4^{\circ}C$ greater in winter than summer(p=0.00). Air temperature selected by each subject for their thermal comfort revealed $0.8^{\circ}C$ higher in summer than winter(p=0.06). The results obtained suggest an increase in human thermoregulation and be used as preliminary data to maintain optimal indoor temperature in summer and winter.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.681-686
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the thermally different states of human feet on temperature regulation in winter season. Five healthy female students of age 20 volunteered as subjects to participate in the study. Physiological responses such as rectal temperature and skin temperatures as well as subjective responses of thermal comfort and thermal sensation were observed. Preferred clothing and preferred temperature were also evaluated in terms of behavioral temperature regulation. The results obtained through the experiment were statistically analyzed using paired t test. Rectal temperature was decreased greater (p<.01) and mean skin temperature was maintained higher (p<.01) in feet wanning than in feet cooling. Results of preferred clothing were coincident with those of general thermal sensation. There was a higher tendency to prefer temperature in feet wanning than feet cooling in the morning. It was concluded that keeping feet skin temperature lower in the early morning and higher in the late evening would be effective in terms of regulating circadian rhythm of core temperature.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2021

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of reduced plantar cutaneous sensation on gait kinematics during walking with and without CAI. Method: A total of 20 subjects involved in this study and ten healthy subjects and 10 CAI subjects participated underwent ice-immersion of the plantar aspect of the feet before walking test in this study. The gait kinematics were measured before and after ice-immersion. Results: We observed a before ice-immersion on plantar cutaneous sensation, CAI subject were found to reduced ankle dorsiflexion, knee external rotation, hip adduction, and internal rotation compared to control subject. After ice-immersion, CAI subjects were found to reduce knee external rotation, hip adduction. However, no significant ankle joint kinematics. Conclusion: While walking, gait pattern differences were perceived between groups with and without plantar cutaneous sensation. The results of the study may explain the abductions in the hip angle movements in CAI patients at initial contact compared to healthy subjects in the control group when plantar cutaneous sensation was reduced. A change in proximal joint kinematics may be a conservative strategy to promote normal gait patterns in CAI patients.