Thermoregulation and thermal sensation during whole-body water immersion at different water temperatures in healthy individuals: A scoping review. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ntoumani, Maria; Dugué, Benoit; Rivas, Eric; Gongaki, Konstantina
• Is Part Of: Journal of thermal biology. Volume 112(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: Thermal perception -- Thermal sensation -- Whole-body immersion -- Thermoregulation -- Temperature ranges; Thermobiology -- Periodicals; Temperature -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Thermobiologie -- Périodiques; Thermobiology; Periodicals; 571.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2022.103430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4565

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Severe thermal discomfort may increase risk of drowning due to hypothermia or hyperthermia from prolonged exposure to noxious water temperatures. The importance of using a behavioral thermoregulation model with thermal sensation may predict the thermal load that the human body receives when exposed to various immersive water conditions. However, there is no thermal sensation "gold standard" model specific for water immersion. This scoping review aims to present a comprehensive overview regarding human physiological and behavioral thermoregulation during whole-body water immersion and explore the feasibility for an accepted defined sensation scale for cold and hot water immersion. Methods: A standard literary search was performed on PubMed, Google Scholar, and SCOPUS. The words "Water Immersion, " "Thermoregulation, " "Cardiovascular responses" were used either as independent searched terms and MeSH terms (Medical Subject Headings) or in combination with other text words. The inclusion criteria for clinical trials terms to thermoregulatory measurements (core or skin temperature), whole-body immersion, 18–60 years old and healthy individuals. The prementioned data were analyzed narratively to achieve the overall study objective. Results: Twenty-three published articles fulfilled the review inclusion/exclusion criteria (with nine measured behavioral responses). Our outcomes illustrated a homogenous thermal sensation in a variety of water temperatures ranges, that was strongly associated with thermal balance, and observed different thermoregulatory responses. This scoping review highlights the impact of water immersion duration on human thermoneutral zone, thermal comfort zone, and thermal sensation. Conclusion: Our findings enlighten the significance of thermal sensation as a health indicator for establishing a behavioral thermal model applicable for water immersion. This scoping review provides insight for the needed development of subjective thermal model of thermal sensation in relation to human thermal physiology specific to immersive water temperature ranges within and outside the thermal neutral and comfort zone. Highlights: First review of the literature on behavioral and physiological thermoregulation in a range of water temperatures. Thermal neutral zone and thermal comfort zone have different ranges in water immersion compared to ambient temperatures. Thermal sensation and thermoneutral zone are time and temperature dependent. Understanding thermal sensation will be valuable for prescriptions used by aquatic health professionals.