title: Medical Evaluation for Exposure Extremes: Cold.
abstract: Risk of injury in cold environments is related to a combination of athlete preparedness, preexisting medical conditions, and the body's physiologic response to environmental factors, including ambient temperature, windchill, and wetness. The goal of this section is to decrease the risk of hypothermia, frostbite, and nonfreezing cold injuries as well as to prevent worsening of preexisting conditions in cold environments using a preparticipation screening history, examination, and counseling. Cold weather exercise can be done safely with education, proper preparation, and appropriate response to changing weather conditions.
authors.affiliation: Activity, Sports and Exercise Medicine Department, Group Health Cooperative, Everett, Washington (Dr Fudge). Electronic address: fudge.j@ghc.org.
authors.forename: Jessie R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fudge
authors.affiliation: Military and Emergency Medicine Department, F. Hébert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland (Dr Bennett).
authors.forename: Brad L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.affiliation: Sports and Occupational Medicine Department, Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar, Missouri (Dr Simanis).
authors.forename: Juris P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Simanis
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dr Roberts).
authors.forename: William O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015444:Exercise; D005627:Frostbite / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology
keywords: cold; exercise; frostbite; hypothermia; injury prevention