Author: Geurts, Carla L.M.

Source: Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, Volume 31, Number 4, August 2006 , pp. 480-481(2)

Publisher: NRC Research Press

Abstract:

The research in this thesis investigated the effects of cold stress on neuromuscular function with the main focus on cold acclimation. In total, 6 studies, 1 field study and 5 experiments, were conducted. The field study showed that during manual work in cold weather, finger and hand temperature can drop to levels that may impair manual function. The first 2 experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of acute local cold stress on force control and to investigate the effect of cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) on neuromuscular function. In experiment 1, it was found that cooling of the hand in 10°C cold water for 10min did not improve force control, although neuromuscular function was significantly impaired after cooling. In experiment 2, cold-induced vasodilatation, occurring after 20min of 8°C cold-water immersion of the hand, was confined to the finger tip and had no effect on the temperature of the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscle or its neuromuscular function. A series of cold acclimation studies was conducted to investigate the effect of repeated cold-water hand immersions on neuromuscular function. In these experiments, neuromuscular function was tested before and after 2-3weeks of daily hand immersion in 8°C cold water for 30min. In experiment 3, it was found that 3weeks of cold-water immersion resulted in a decrease in minimum and mean index finger temperature and CIVD was attenuated. Neuromuscular function was not affected by this change in temperature response. In experiment 4, one hand was exposed daily to cold water and compared with the opposite control hand. Blood plasma catecholamine concentrations were increased after 2weeks in the cold-exposed hand, but no changes in temperature response or neuromuscular function were found after repeated cold exposure. Thermal comfort after 30min of cold-water immersion significantly improved after repeated cold exposure causing a discrepancy between actual and perceived temperature and it was suggested that this may impose a greater risk of cold injury owing to a change in behavioural thermoregulation. In the last experiment, core temperature was elevated by bicycling at a submaximal level during the cold hand immersion. Exercise had a direct effect on the temperature response during cold-water immersion, decreasing the minimum FDI temperature and slowing down the deteriorating effect of cold on neuromuscular function; however, exercise showed was no effect on local cold acclimation. It is concluded that local repeated cold exposures may improve finger and hand temperature and subjective thermal ratings, but that these changes are too small to improve neuromuscular function. The best remedy to maintain manual function is to limit or avoid cold stress as much as possible. If sufficient protection of the hands is impossible, core heating through exercise or passive heating may be a solution.

Les travaux de recherche de ce mémoire portent sur l'étude des effets du stress dû au froid sur la fonction neuromusculaire, où une attention particulière est accordée à l'acclimatation au froid. Un total de 6 études, soit 1 sur le terrain et 5 en laboratoire, ont été réalisées. L'étude menée sur le terrain révèle que durant les travaux manuels réalisés par temps froid, la température des mains et des doigts peut chuter à des niveaux susceptibles de nuire à la fonction manuelle. Les 2 premières expériences visaient à étudier non seulement l'effet d'un stress local aigu dû au froid sur le contrôle de la force, mais aussi l'effet de la vasodilatation causée par le froid (CIVD) sur la fonction neuromusculaire. Dans la première expérience, un refroidissement de la main par immersion dans de l'eau àune température de 10 °C durant 10 minutes n'a pas amélioré le contrôle de la force, et ce, même si la fonction neuromusculaire s'est détériorée de façon marquée après le refroidissement. Dans la deuxième expérience, la vasodilatation causée par le froid, survenue après 20 minutes d'immersion de la main dans de l'eau à 8 °C, ne s'est produite qu'au bout des doigts et n'a eu aucun effet sur la température du premier interosseux dorsal (FDI) ou sur sa fonction neuromusculaire. Par la suite, une série d'études sur l'acclimatation au froid a été réalisée en vue d'examiner l'effet de l'immersion répétée des mains dans l'eau froide sur la fonction neuromusculaire.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2006-08-01

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• This bimonthly journal has a 30-year history of publishing, first as the Canadian Journal of Sport Sciences, and later as the Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology. It publishes original research articles, reviews, and commentaries, focussing on the application of physiology, nutrition, and metabolism to the study of human health, physical activity, and fitness. The published research, reviews, and symposia will be of interest to exercise physiologists, physical fitness and exercise rehabilitation specialists, public health and health care professionals, as well as basic and applied physiologists, nutritionists, and biochemists.
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