Estimation of sweat rates during cycling exercise by means of the closed chamber condenser technology.
OBJECTIVE
Knowledge of local sweating patterns is of importance in occupational and exercise physiology settings. The recently developed closed chamber condenser technology (Biox Aquaflux®) allows the measurement of evaporative skin water loss with a greater measurement capacity (up to 1325 g/h/m2) compared to traditional evaporimeters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability of the Biox Aquaflux®to estimate sweat production during exercise.


METHODS
Fourteen healthy subjects performed a 20-min cycle ergometer trial at respectively 55% heart rate (HRreserveand 75% HRreserve. Sweat production was estimated by measuring body weight before and after exercise, by calculating the amount of sweat collected in a patch, and by measuring the water flux (in g/h/m2) with the Biox Aquaflux®instrument.


RESULTS
The Biox Aquaflux®instrument allowed the follow up of sweat kinetics at both intensities. Correlations between the measurement methods were all significant for the 75% HRreservetrial (with r ranging from 0.68 to 0.76) whilst for the 55% HRreservea significant relation was detected between the patch method and the Biox Aquaflux®only (with r ranging from 0.41 to 0.79).


CONCLUSIONS
The Biox Aquaflux®instrument is a practical and direct method for the estimation of local sweat rates under field conditions.
Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
P
P
Clarys
Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.|Rehabilitation Research Laboratory, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, SUPSI, Landquart, Switzerland.
R
R
Clijsen
Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
A O
AO
Barel
Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
R
R
Schouteden
Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
B
B
van Olst
Movement and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.|Department Urban Coaching and Education, Erasmus University College, Brussels, Belgium.
D
D
Aerenhouts
D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003880:Dermatology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013542:Sweat / Q000737:chemistry*; D013546:Sweating / Q000502:physiology*; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*
measurement methods; physical exercise; sweat rates; sweating