Cyclic intramuscular temperature fluctuations in the human forearm during cold-water immersion

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the intramuscular temperature fluctuations in the human forearm immersed in water at 15 degrees C. Tissue temperature (Tt) was continuously monitored by a calibrated multicouple probe during 3 h immersion of the forearm. The probe was implanted approximately 90 mm distal from the olecranon process along the ulnar ridge. Tt was measured every 5 mm, from the longitudinal axis of the forearm (determined from computed tomography scanning) to the skin surface. Along with Tt, rectal temperature, skin temperature and heat loss of the forearm were measured during the immersions. Five of the six subjects tested showed evidence of cyclic temperature fluctuations in the forearm limited to the muscle tissue. The first increase of the muscle temperature was observed 75 (SE 6) min after the onset of the immersion, and the duration of the cycle averaged 36 (SE 3) min. The maximum increase of the muscle temperature, which ranged between 0.4 degrees C and 1.0 degrees C, was measured at the axis of the forearm, and was inversely correlated to the circumference of the subject's forearm (P less than 0.05). No corresponding increases of the skin temperature and heat loss of the forearm were observed for the complete duration of the immersion. These data support the hypothesis of a significant contribution of the muscle vessels during cold-induced vasodilatation in the forearm.

Intramuscular Temperature Responses in the Human Leg to Two Forms of Cryotherapy: Ice Massage and Ice Bag

“…Other investigators have indirectly controlled for skin-fold differences between subjects but did not individualize temperature probe insertiondepth based on these measurements (4,5,17). These observations may help to explain the differences seen between past investigations and the current study.…”

Effect of cold-induced vasodilatation in the index finger on temperature and contractile characteristics of the first dorsal interosseus muscle during cold-water immersion

“…Ducharme et al (1991) measured intramuscular temperature gradients of the forearm during their prolonged cooling protocol, and reported that the fluctuations in temperature at the longitudinal axis of the forearm were not reflected in skin temperature. Therefore, it remains possible that the surface measurement we used to estimate FDI temperature did not accurately reflect FDI muscle temperature.…”

“…This cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) or 'hunting response' (Lewis 1930) is typically reported in extremities such as the finger (Keatinge 1957;Lewis 1930), hand (Chen et al 1996;Daanen et al 1997), feet (Fox and Wyatt 1962;Greenfield et al 1951), and ears and cheeks (Fox and Wyatt 1962), though more proximal body parts have also been reported to demonstrate CIVD. Fox and Wyatt (1962) found increases in skin temperature during cooling of the forearm and calf, and Ducharme et al (1991) also showed cyclic intramuscular temperature fluctuation during forearm cooling. During CIVD, blood flow has shown oscillatory changes similar to finger skin temperature, with blood flow changes preceding skin temperature changes by about 2 min (Daanen and Ducharme 1999).…”

Finger cold-induced vasodilation: a review

“…It is likely that CIVD also improves the manual dexterity and tactile sensitivity during work in the cold. Since the blood flow increases substantially in the fingers during CIVD, this increases the blood circulation in the large vessels of the forearm, with the consequence of increasing the temperature of the forearm muscles (Ducharme et al 1991), and likely contributes to improved manual performance by improving muscle function. The increased skin temperature due to CIVD will increase the firing rate of the pressure transducers in the skin and thus increase tactile sensitivity.…”