title: Effects of lightweight outdoor clothing on the prevention of hypothermia during low-intensity exercise in the cold.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study protective effects of windbreaker jacket and pants during exercise in the cold.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Climate chamber.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine well-trained (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max 61.7 ± 6.6 mL/min/kg) sport students (6 male and 3 female participants).
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects started walking for 1 hour in a climate chamber (0°C ambient temperature and wind speed of 10 km/h) at 70% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max wearing gloves, a T-shirt, and shorts. Then, the walking speed was reduced to 30% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max for an additional 60 minutes or until core temperature dropped below 35.5°C. Subsequently, 3 groups of 3 participants continued walking without change of clothing or obtaining additionally a cap and a windbreaker jacket or windbreaker jacket and pants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Core and skin temperature, thermal comfort.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main findings of this study were that exercising at 70% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max in the cold was sufficient to prevent hypothermia and that during low-intensity exercise (30% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max), the combined use of a polyester cap, lightweight windbreaker jacket, and pants was necessary to increase a prehypothermic core temperature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We strongly recommend taking a cap, windbreaker jacket, and pants for the prevention of hypothermia during exhaustive walking or running in cold weather conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Science, Medical Section, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. martin.burtscher@uibk.ac.at
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Burtscher
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kofler
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gatterer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faulhaber
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Philippe
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Rebekka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herten
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D003020:Clothing; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult