Abstract

Choosing the adequate garment for sport practice in adverse weather condition, either cold or hot, is an aspect of great influence on activity performance. This paper presents the results of a study carried out in 2005 by the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia (IBV) together with the Physical and Sports Performance Research Unit at the University of Valencia (UIRFIDE). The final goal of the project was generating the knowledge to provide enough information to select the most adequate garment for the sport practice in each situation. This study was aimed at comparing the thermal response of the body during a non-uniform activity test performed on a tread-mill under different conditions (provided by clothing and environmental conditions). In this sense, two commercial shirts made of the same textile (100% polyester) but with different thickness (different thermal properties: Rct and Ret) were tested by a sample of 8 trained-participants under controlled environmental conditions (25°C/50%RH, 10°C/60%RH) in laboratory. Throughout the activity test, physiological parameters of the thermal response such as skin temperature (at three locations: chest, arm and thigh) and microclimate variables in user-garment interface (armpit and upper-back) as well as individual work load indicators (heart rate) were registered. Simultaneously, the user perception was also collected at different times of the test. The results allowed measuring a significant influence (p < 0.05) of the environmental condition independently of the garment and the activity level on the average skin temperature. The influence of the shirt was only described as significant (p < 0.05) at low- middle intensity of the activity for each environmental condition. These results provide the possibility for sport equipment manufactures of giving recommendations for users which let them choosing the most suitable garment according to the environmental conditions and activity level in order to improve the performance and comfort providing the body with the adequate thermal conditions. Verf.-Referat