Cutaneous vasomotor adaptation following repeated, isothermal heat exposures: evidence of adaptation specificity

Unequivocal enhancement of cutaneous vasomotor function has yet to be demonstrated following heat acclimation, possibly because the adaptation stimulus was not sustained, or because thermoeffector function was not assessed at equivalent deep-body temperatures. Therefore, forearm and local cutaneous vascular conductances were evaluated during exercise eliciting matched deep-body temperatures (37.5 °C, 38.5 °C), before and after isothermal heat acclimation. Both indices increased (21% and 25%), confirming cutaneous vasomotor adaptation can occur, provided those experimental design specifications are satisfied.