Thermal Responses in Foot and Hand Baths / 日本温泉気候物理医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

  Foot and hand baths are used well in partial baths. It is thought that a warm temperature effect varies according to the size of warmed part in a partial bath, but it is not clear. The purpose of this study is to examine the thermal response on the size of warming area and position during foot and hand baths. The subjects were ten young individuals (all men, average age 23.2 ± 1.3 years), and these individuals partook in a 15-min foot and hand bath. Subjects submerged themselves up to the lower thigh and forearm in a bath at 42°C, in a seated position, rested in the position for five min, and then rested for an additional five min after bathing. There are five styles for baths (single thigh, both thighs, single forearm, both forearms, and no bath). Tympanic temperature was taken with a thermistor, skin blood flow with a laser Doppler flowmeter, and sweat rate with capsule method on the right side. We measured whether the subjects felt warm and comfortable. Tympanic temperature was significantly increased in both the foot and hand baths. Skin blood flow and sweat rate showed no change under any condition. Warm temperature and subjects’ feelings of comfort varied for all bathing conditions, in comparison with no bath. Warm temperature feeling was significant for both the foot and hand baths, in comparison with single baths. The change in these temperatures depended on the surface area warmth in the bath, and the response of the warming at different parts of body was suggested by various factors.