2007, Piran, Slovenia

Environmental Ergonomics XII
Igor B. Mekjavic, Stelios N. Kounalakis & Nigel A.S. Taylor (Eds.), © BIOMED, Ljubljana 2007
UPPER BODY SWEAT DISTRIBUTION DURING AND AFTER A 60
MINUTE TRAINING RUN IN MALE AND FEMALE RUNNERS
George Havenith 1 , Alison Fogarty 1 , Rebecca Bartlett 1 , Caroline Smith 1 , Vincent Ventenat 2
1 Dept. Human Sciences, Loughborough University, UK
2 Centre de Recherche DECATHLON, Villeneuve d'Asq - France
Contact person: G.Havenith@lboro.ac.uk
INTRODUCTION
A research project was undertaken to gather information on regional sweat rates on the upper
body of male and female runners during a typical training run of 60 minutes, with the aim to
gather information to be used in running shirt design. Measurement of regional sweat rate has
been attempted in many studies, and large amounts of data are available. The data from
different studies differ massively however. Unfortunately, as sweat rates relate to the thermal
state of the body, these results cannot necessarily be transferred to the current question.
Further, most research only measured sweat rate in a single location of each body part (e.g.
one small area each on chest, back, arm, leg, forehead) providing only general information.
For this reason it was decided to measure the sweat rate distribution related to the specific
application: runner’s shirts.
Various techniques are available for measuring regional sweat rates. The main ones used are:
(a) collection in pouches taped to the skin, (b) collection in filtration papers fitted in small
capsules glued to the skin, (c) collection in absorbents pressed to the skin, (d) analysis of
humidity increase in either closed or ventilated capsule pressed or glued to the skin, (e)
measuring of size increase of sweat drops appearing on the skin. As the goal of the
experiment was to measure a large number of locations, most techniques would be too
complex and time consuming, making simultaneous measurement impossible. The ventilated
capsule method was technically too complex and difficult to apply reliably during running.
Hence it was decided to develop the absorbent method for use in this study.
METHODS
Nine female participants (age: 26.8 ±5.7 y, height: 169 ±4 cm, weight: 64.3 ±5.9 kg), and
eight male participants (age: 28.4 ±7.7 y, height: 175.3 ±7.56 cm, weight: 72.9 ±6.67 kg)
volunteered to participate in this study. All were fit and regular runners. They ran at a target
heart rate between 150 and 160 bpm on a treadmill for one hour (ensuring equal relative
workload), after which they rested in the same location for another 15 minutes. Absorbent
sweat patches were individually sized, and applied at three times: between minute 30 and 35,
between minute 45 and 50 and finally at the end of the rest period. The torso and upper arm
was measured in 15 discrete areas. Weight changes and patch surface areas allowed
calculation of sweat rates per region in g.m -2 .h -1 . In the investigated region, all skin was
covered by the absorbent during the test period, to assure collection of all sweat, and to avoid
sweat migrating between areas. Subjects wore normal running attire, and were towelled dry
before applying the patches. Skin temperatures were measured using Infra Red Thermography
of the dried, nude skin at the moments just before and after patches were applied.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
In the current experiment an attempt was made to gather sweating data specifically for the
situation of a one hour (approximately 10 km) training run. Results showed very large
variation in individual sweating, consistent with literature data. For the males, sweating on the
back was highest, especially in the mid-line. Sweating was highest at the mid-central back
area, then the top-central back followed by the mid-back sides, then the scapulas, the lower
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