Thermoregulation of feet in cold environments: A study on alpinism

Abstract

Thermal comfort plays a crucial role in the performance and well-being of mountaineers, especially in extreme environments. The aim of this study was to develop a reliable protocol to assess the thermal comfort of mountaineering boots, with a specific focus on temperature variations in different regions of the foot and their correlation with physiological factors. Two different models of mountaineering boots were tested at two different environmental temperature (-15°C and -30°C). The mean skin temperature, measured according to International Standards BS EN ISO 9886:2004, was used as an indicator of overall thermal comfort. Physiological factors such as heart rate (HR), body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) were also measured to understand their relationship to thermoregulation. Kruskal-Wallis and Pearson's ProductMoment correlation tests were performed to investigate whether there was a statistically significant relationship. The results showed significant differences in foot temperature among the Testers, indicating variations in the perception of thermal comfort. The correlation analysis showed a strong positive relationship between mean skin temperature and HR, highlighting the influence of physiological factors on thermal comfort. In addition, the analysis showed that the dorsum and hallux areas had the largest temperature variations, suggesting the occurrence of vasoconstriction and potential discomfort. This study represents a preliminary approach to establishing a reliable protocol for assessing the thermal performance of cold protective footwear.

Keywords: Feet thermal comfort; Human physiology; Thermal comfort; Thermoregulation.