title: [Changes in core temperature during snow shoveling among healthy young males in heavy-snowfall area of Chugoku region in Japan].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are several recommendations on the prevention of hypothermia during snow shoveling. However, there seemed to be insufficient evidence supporting these recommendations because they are not based on data from actual snow shoveling research. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in brain temperature (tympanic temperature) and visceral temperature (rectal temperature) during snow shoveling among healthy young males.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight healthy young males (age, 23.6 ± 2.4 years; weight, 69.7 ± 6.1 kg; height, 172.8 ± 7.3 cm) performed snow shoveling with an ordinary-size shovel for 15 min at their own pace in a rural snowfall area in December, 2009. Rectal temperature (Tre) and tympanic temperature (Tty) were measured 5 times (at rest, 5th (Ex5), 10th (Ex10), and 15th (Ex15) minute of snow shoveling; and 5th (Rec5) minute of recovery phase). The room temperature was 18.6 ± 0.7°C and the atmospheric temperature was 3.8 ± 2.6°C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tre continued to increase from at rest to Ex15. Tre at Ex15 (37.7 ± 0.3°C) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that at rest (37.2 ± 0.3°C). Tty at rest (36.7 ± 0.2°C) and Tty at Ex5 (36.6 ± 0.3°C) decreased significantly (p < 0.05) at Ex10 (36.2 ± 0.6°C). A significant negative correlation between changes in Tre and Tty were observed during snow shoveling (r = -0.49, p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Discrepancy between changes in brain temperature (tympanic temperature) and visceral temperature (rectal temperature) should be taken into consideration in the prevention of disease development during snow shoveling in a cold environment.
authors: Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare, Japan. w8510002@kwmw.jp
authors: Yusuke
authors: Y
authors: Takagi
authors: Hisashi
authors: H
authors: Wakuri
authors: Sho
authors: S
authors: Onodera
authors: Mitsu
authors: M
authors: Ono
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012914:Snow; D055815:Young Adult