International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Performance and Health in Cold Climate

For optimal performance, a good whole body heat balance should be maintained, and especially fingers, hands and arms should be well protected against cooling without affecting too much manual dexterity. Moreover, if low and high physical activity phases alternate in the work, the thermal insulation of the clothing should be easily adjustable. Clothing and other protective garments decrease performance due to the weight, bulkiness, friction and possible covering of body areas which are important for sensory functions. Clothing can therefore impair tactile sensitivity, hearing, manual dexterity, decrease the range of movements and increase energetic costs of work. Each additional kg in clothing weight increase energy costs approximately by 3 % and each additional layer by 4 %. Increased energy costs are associated with a decrease in physical performance: the decrease is task specific, and roughly equal to the changes in the energy costs. The decrement in performance can be minimized by decreasing clothing weight and bulkiness as well as the friction between the clothing layers and the number of clothing layers. Minimal friction is important in sites where large range of movements is expected like in trouser legs and sleeves of jackets.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)