title: Cold weather issues in sideline and event management.
abstract: Exercise in cold environments exerts a unique physiologic stress on the human body, which, under certain conditions, may result in a cold-related injury. Environmental factors are the most important risk factors for the development of hypothermia in athletes. Frostbite occurs as a result of direct cold injury to peripheral tissues. The biggest risk for frostbite is temperature. Trench foot is a result of repeated and constant immersion in cold water. Chilblains are local erythematous or cyanotic skin lesions that develop at ambient air temperatures of 32°F to 60°F after an exposure time of about 1 to 5 h. Cold urticaria is, essentially, an allergic reaction to a cold exposure and can be controlled with avoidance of the cold. There are a number of risk factors and conditions that predispose athletes to cold injury, but exercise in the cold can be done safely with proper education and planning.
authors.affiliation: Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine 04105, USA.
authors.forename: J Andrew
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Howe
mesh_terms: D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005627:Frostbite / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D007102:Immersion Foot / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014581:Urticaria / Q000209:etiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*