Foot Temperatures and Toe Blood Flow during a 12 km Winter Hike and Guard Duty

摘要

The present study evaluated toe temperatures and blood flow by an indirect method during a 12 km winter hike and guard duty. Subjects (10 males, 10 females) wearing a standard military issue winter clothing ensemble, participated in two separate trials. In one, they conducted a 12 km hike carrying a 20 kg backpack, on trails surrounding the Alpine military training facility Pokljuka. The hikes ranged from 3 to 4 hours. In the second trial, they conducted a 3 hr guard duty. During the 3-week study, the trails were covered with snow. Peripheral vasodilatation, presumably as a result of the elevated core temperature, maintained average skin temperature constant during the 12 km hike, and increased toe temperature. In contrast, the low activity during the guard duty resulted in a stable core temperature, and peripheral vasoconstriction. The reduction in toe perfusion resulted in substantial decreases in toe temperature. Should this toe temperature prevail for a longer period, the risk of non-freezing cold injury would be imminent.