Perception of hand cooling during local cold air exposure at three different temperatures

Abstract

The effect of local hand cooling in air on skin temperature, thermal sensation and pain was studied at three different temperatures, 0, 7 and 15°C, in a cooling box. Eighteen subjects were exposed to each local temperature condition for 95 min. The inter-individual variation in cooling reaction was considerable, especially in the two colder conditions. There was, however, a significant individual consistency in reaction between conditions. Initial hand skin temperature, overall body heat balance, time of day of testing and site of temperature measurement are among the factors discussed in relation to the reactions to local hand cooling. The relation calculated between thermal sensation and hand skin temperature appeared consistent and unaffected by local ambient temperature conditions, and thus by the corresponding variation in rate of cooling, within the limited temperature range studied. Similar results were found for the relation between experienced pain and hand skin temperature.