Responses of sweating and body temperature to sinusoidal exercise

This study determined the phase response and amplitude response (delta) of esophageal temperature (T(es)), mean skin temperature (Tsk), and forearm sweating rate (Msw) to sinusoidal work. Six healthy male subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer with a constant load (approximately 35% maximal O2 uptake) for a 30-min period; for the next 40 min they exercised with a sinusoidal load at 25 degrees C at 35% relative humidity. The sinusoidal load varied between approximately 10 and 60% maximal O2 uptake, and three different time periods (1.3, 4, and 8 min) were selected. Each subject performed three experiments that differed only in the timing of sinusoidal work. During the 4- and 8-min periods, T(es), Tsk, and Msw changed almost sinusoidally. The phase of Msw change significantly preceded those of T(es) and Tsk changes (P < 0.05). During the 1.3-min period, the level of T(es) and Tsk remained almost constant (delta T(es) 0.01 +/- 0.00 degrees C, delta Tsk 0.03 +/- 0.01 degrees C), whereas Msw showed a clear sinusoidal pattern. We conclude that the sweating response during sinusoidal work depends on both thermal and nonthermal factors, the latter being emotional, mental, or sensory stimulation. The contribution of the nonthermal factors to the general sweating response during exercise can be separated from that of the thermal factors by using sinusoidal work during a short period (e.g., 1.3 min).