Predicting Temperature Changes During Cold Water Immersion and Exercise Scenarios: Application of a Tissue–Blood Interactive Whole-Body Model

Abstract

A whole-body model with tissue–blood interaction was simulated to predict (1) cooling during cold water immersion of the human body in water temperatures of 18.5°C, 10°C, and 0°C and (2) heating of the human body at walking intensities of 0.9, 1.2, and 1.8 m/s for 30 min. The transient responses of body and blood temperature were obtained by simultaneously solving Pennes’ bioheat and energy balance equations. Predicted survival time at 0°C was around 39–50 min. During exercise with sweating, core body temperature was regulated within 0.25°C of its steady state value of 37.23°C.