Hypothermia

Cold Acclimation of the Hand

Carla Geurts-Cole's Ph.D. research program, funded by NSERC, is on adaptive responses of the hand to acute and repeated exposure to the cold. Many occupations require the maintenance of manual dexterity during cold exposure (e.g., powerline repair). She is investigating the thermal, hormonal, and neuromuscular changes that happen in the fingers and hands. An example of a thermal adaptation to cold exposure is the cutaneous involuntary vasodilation (CIVD), where finger skin temperature rises and falls in a cyclic fashion during sustained cold exposure. Does this response alter with cold acclimation? Does CIVD have any effect on manual dexterity of muscle function?

Cheung, S.S. and I.B. Mekjavic. Cold-induced vasodilatation is not homogenous or generalizable across the hand and feet. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 99:701-705, 2007. PDF

Geurts, C.L.M.*, G.G. Sleivert, and S.S. Cheung. Local cold acclimation during exercise and its effect on neuromuscular function of the hand. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 31:717-725, 2006. PDF

Geurts, C.L.M.*, G.G. Sleivert, and S.S. Cheung. The effect of repeated cold water immersion on neuromuscular function and thermoregulation of the hand through central and peripheral mechanisms. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 31:110-117, 2006. PDF

Geurts C.L.M.*, G.G. Sleivert, and S.S. Cheung. Effect of cold-induced vasodilatation in the index finger on temperature and contractile characteristics of the first dorsal interosseus muscle during cold-water immersion. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 93: 524-529, 2005 PDF.

Geurts C.L.M.*, G.G. Sleivert, and S.S. Cheung. Effect of repeated cold-water immersion on cold-induced vasodilatation and neuromuscular function of the first dorsal interosseus muscle. Acta Physiol. Scand. 183:117-124, 2005 PDF.

Geurts, C.L.M.*, G.G. Sleivert, S.S. Cheung. Temperature effects on the contractile characteristics and voluntary force control of the first dorsal interosseus muscle. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 91:41-45, 2004. PDF

Other Hypothermia Research

We have a range of other current and recent research projects dealing with hypothermia, with one study testing different ways to safely and quickly rewarm mildly hypothermic victims. Paralleling our hyperthermia research, we are also interested in how local cooling and whole-body cooling affect neuromuscular function.

Wright, H.E.* and S.S. Cheung. Cranial-Neck and Inhalation Rewarming Failed to Improve Recovery from Mild Hypothermia. Aviat. Space Environ. Med. 77:398-403, 2006. PDF

Thornley, L.J.*, N.S. Maxwell, and S.S. Cheung. Local tissue temperature effects on peak torque and muscular endurance during isometric knee extension. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 90:588-594, 2003. PDF

Cheung, S.S. and I.B. Mekjavic. Human temperature regulation during subanesthetic levels of nitrous oxide-induced narcosis. J. Appl. Physiol. 78: 2301-2308, 1995. PDF

Last Updated May 27, 2007

Site maintained by Dr. Stephen S. Cheung, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Dalhousie University.