The effect of exposure to cold on dexterity and temperature of the skin and hands

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of volunteers.

Parameter	Mean ± standard deviation
Sex	Male
Age (years)	21.8 ± 3.2
Body mass (kg)	76.7 ± 10.3
Height (m)	1.8 ± 0.1
BMI (kg/m^2)	22.8 ± 2.2
VO2max (ml/min/kg)	30.5 ± 2.8

Note: BMI = body mass index; V_O2max = maximal oxygen consumption.

Table 2. Test variants.

Test variant	Air temperature (°C)	Tested gloves
V.1	+5	Type A
V.2	+5	Type B
V.3	−1	Type A
V.4	−1	Type B
V.5 (control conditions)	+20	Bare hands

Figure 1. Test scheme: pre-test (preparation for test); 1 h of exposure in climatic chamber; and after the test.

Figure 2. Mean weighted skin temperature values of volunteers before, at 20 and 40 min, and after (60 min) the test, depending on the variants. Note: bars = mean values, whiskers = standard deviation.

Table 3. Difference in skin temperature (skin temperature after cold exposure minus skin temperature before cold exposure) for variants V.1–V.5.

	Hand skin temperature (°C)
Study variant	Left hand	Right hand	Mean weighted skin temperature (°C)
V.1	0.0 ± 1.5^‡	0.9 ± 1.3^†,‡	0.3 ± 0.5^†,‡
V.2	−1.3 ± 2.2^‡	−0.1 ± 1.7^‡	0.3 ± 0.7^‡
V.3	−1.9 ± 2.6^‡	−0.5 ± 1.9*^,‡	−0.4 ± 0.7*^,‡,§
V.4	−4.4 ± 1.3*^,**^,†,§	−3.5 ± 1.2*^,**^,†,§	−1.3 ± 1.1*^,**^,†,§
V.5	−0.3 ± 1.3^‡	−0.1 ± 0.9^‡	0.5 ± 0.7^†‡

* Significantly different from variant V.1.

** Significantly different from variant V.2.

^† Significantly different from variant V.3.

^‡ Significantly different from variant V.4.

^§ Significantly different from variant V.5.

Figure 3. Mean values of skin temperature on the left hand before and after cold exposure, depending on the test variant. Note: bars = mean values, whiskers = standard deviation.

Figure 4. Mean values of skin temperature on the right hand before and after cold exposure, depending on the study variant. Note: bars = mean values, whiskers = standard deviation.

Figure 5. Mean values obtained in the Purdue pegboard test for the right hand (RH) and left hand (LH), depending on the study variant. Note: bars = mean values, number of pegs, whiskers = standard deviation.

Figure 6. Mean values of grip strength for right hand (RH) and left hand (LH) for 10 volunteers depending on the study variant. Note: bars = mean values, whiskers = standard deviation.