Rebecca Relf1, Ashley Willmott2, Melanie S Flint3, Louisa Beale2, Neil Maxwell2. 1. Environmental Extremes Laboratory, University of Brighton, Eastbourne BN20 7SR, UK. Electronic address: R.Relf@brighton.ac.uk. 2. Environmental Extremes Laboratory, University of Brighton, Eastbourne BN20 7SR, UK. 3. Cancer Stress Laboratory, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb BN24GJ, UK; Centre for Stress and Age-Related Disease, Brighton, East Sussex, UK.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of five different sweat analysis techniques which measure; whole body sweat rate [WBSR], local sweat rate [LSR] (via technical absorbent [TA] method and KuduSmart® monitor), sweat conductivity [SC] and sweat gland activation [SGA] in a female population when exercising moderately under heat stress. METHODS: Fourteen females (age; 26 ± 7 years, body mass; 66.5 ± 7.6 kg, height; 167.1 ± 6.4 cm) completed a preliminary threshold walking test (to determine exercise intensity) and two main trials, separated by 2 days. Main trials consisted of 30-min seated rest in the environmental chamber (35 °C, 50% relative humidity) in an upper body sauna-suit, before its removal, and walking at a moderate intensity (4 metabolic equivalents) for 30-min (speeds ranged from 4.8 to 6.5 km h-1). WBSR was measured via nude mass pre and post exercise. The TA and Tegaderm patches (for sweat sodium chloride) were placed on the back, forearm and chest for the entire 60-min, replicated for all participants for both trials. SGA was assessed following the 60-min trial and the KuduSmart® monitor was placed on the left arm for the 30-min of exercise. RESULTS: WBSR, LSR methods and SC demonstrated no difference between trials (p > 0.05), good agreement (within limits), strong correlations (r ≥ 0.88) and low typical error of measurements [TEM] (< 0.04 L min-1, 0.13 mg min-1 cm-2 and 8 mmol L-1, respectively). SGA method showed moderate intra-class correlation (r = 0.80), with high TEM (5 glands) and large limits of agreement. CONCLUSION: Sudomotor function is reliable, as demonstrated by good reliability, small TEM and strong correlations. The use of these sweat techniques is appropriate and practical in females who are exercising at moderate intensity under heat stress, and so, may aid future interventions. SGA shows larger variation and should be used with caution. Crown
INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of five different sweat analysis techniques which measure; whole body sweat rate [WBSR], local sweat rate [LSR] (via technical absorbent [TA] method and KuduSmart® monitor), sweat conductivity [SC] and sweat gland activation [SGA] in a female population when exercising moderately under heat stress. METHODS: Fourteen females (age; 26 ± 7 years, body mass; 66.5 ± 7.6 kg, height; 167.1 ± 6.4 cm) completed a preliminary threshold walking test (to determine exercise intensity) and two main trials, separated by 2 days. Main trials consisted of 30-min seated rest in the environmental chamber (35 °C, 50% relative humidity) in an upper body sauna-suit, before its removal, and walking at a moderate intensity (4 metabolic equivalents) for 30-min (speeds ranged from 4.8 to 6.5 km h-1). WBSR was measured via nude mass pre and post exercise. The TA and Tegaderm patches (for sweat sodium chloride) were placed on the back, forearm and chest for the entire 60-min, replicated for all participants for both trials. SGA was assessed following the 60-min trial and the KuduSmart® monitor was placed on the left arm for the 30-min of exercise. RESULTS: WBSR, LSR methods and SC demonstrated no difference between trials (p > 0.05), good agreement (within limits), strong correlations (r ≥ 0.88) and low typical error of measurements [TEM] (< 0.04 L min-1, 0.13 mg min-1 cm-2 and 8 mmol L-1, respectively). SGA method showed moderate intra-class correlation (r = 0.80), with high TEM (5 glands) and large limits of agreement. CONCLUSION: Sudomotor function is reliable, as demonstrated by good reliability, small TEM and strong correlations. The use of these sweat techniques is appropriate and practical in females who are exercising at moderate intensity under heat stress, and so, may aid future interventions. SGA shows larger variation and should be used with caution. Crown
Authors: Sophie Huhn; Miriam Axt; Hanns-Christian Gunga; Martina Anna Maggioni; Stephen Munga; David Obor; Ali Sié; Valentin Boudo; Aditi Bunker; Rainer Sauerborn; Till Bärnighausen; Sandra Barteit Journal: JMIR Mhealth Uhealth Date: 2022-01-25 Impact factor: 4.773
Authors: Mara Koch; Ina Matzke; Sophie Huhn; Hanns-Christian Gunga; Martina Anna Maggioni; Stephen Munga; David Obor; Ali Sié; Valentin Boudo; Aditi Bunker; Peter Dambach; Till Bärnighausen; Sandra Barteit Journal: JMIR Mhealth Uhealth Date: 2022-09-09 Impact factor: 4.947