Differences in Regional Skin and Core Temperatures in Male and Female Recreational Surfers Wearing a 1.

5-mm Wetsuit

Juliana Amenta, Bergen Benedict, Nicholas Hoffman, Shayne Lew, Michelle Mendez, Megan Paterson, Juliana Sanchez, Nicolas Sesno, Natalie Skillern, Megan Yee
Department of Kinesiology, California State University, San Marcos, CA, 92096

Abstract Characteristic Results

Background: Recent data collected in men wearing 2-mm wetsuits in the field suggests that there is a
heterogeneous convective heat loss across the body during recreational surfing. Preliminary data in women wearing
Overall Results Table 2: Height (p=0.003) and mass (p=0.009) were found to be significantly different at p<0.05 (* represents a significant
2-mm wetsuits collected in the field suggest that differences in skin temperature may exist between men and difference).
women due to a higher body fat percentage. However, environmental factors may have contributed to the deviation
in skin temperature between sexes. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to perform a controlled investigation of
skin and core temperatures between male and female surfers wearing a 1.5-mm wetsuit. We hypothesized that Subject Characteristics
females will maintain higher core and lower skin temperatures due to higher body fat percentage. Methods:
Seventeen surfers (9 male, 8 female) with a mean age of 25.9±1.6 yrs participated in this study. Heart rate (Polar
.
Male Female
RCX5), core temperature (T-Pill), and skin temperature (wireless iButton thermistors), were measured during a 60-
minute simulated surfing protocol in a flume. Subjects paddled at a speed of 1.2 m/s and alternated between sitting,
laying, and paddling at one minute intervals. Flume speed was increased by 0.2 m/s every 20 minutes. Results: Subjects (n) 9 8
Average regional skin temperature was significantly different (p<0.05) between males (n=9) and females (n=8) at
the upper arm (p=0.025), the lower arm (p=0.008), and the upper leg (p=0.023). There were no significant
differences in average core temperature and heart rate between males and females. Conclusion: The findings from Age (yrs) 24.56±1.40 27.5±3.1
this study support previous evidence suggesting that skin temperature was significantly higher in the upper arm and
upper leg regions among males and significantly higher in the lower arm region among females wearing a 1.5-mm
wetsuit. Height (cm)* 175.68±2.4* 165.74±1.2

Background Mass (kg)* 71.15±3.9* 56.34±2.8

Surfing is an increasingly popular sport with approximately 37 million people participating worldwide1.
Approximately 51% of time is spent paddling, 42% of time is spent sitting, and 5% of time is spent riding waves
among competitive surfers2-3. These three components contribute to how much the body is exposed to water or air. Surfing Experience (1-10) 7.11±0.35 6.25±0.44
When paddling in the prone position, the posterior aspect of the body is exposed to air, whereas the anterior aspect is
immersed in water. When sitting upright, the lower extremities are submerged in water, whereas the torso remains
out of water. In this position, it is likely that superior and inferior body regions experience heat loss at different rates Years Surfed (≥ 5 yrs) 12.67±1.6 12.88±2.3
as convective heat loss is 3-5 times greater in water than air4. To mitigate conductive heat loss during surfing, Figure 1: Average regional skin temperatures were found to be significantly Figure 2: Average body fat percentage was found to be significantly different
neoprene wetsuits are used to provide an additional layer of insulation over the skin. Recent data collected in men different (p<0.05) between males (n=9) and females (n=8) at the upper arm (p<0.05) between males (n=9) and females (n=8) at the arm (p=0.0003), leg
(p=0.025), lower arm (p=0.008) and the upper leg (p=0.023). (p=0.0002), and total (p=0.03). Time Spent Surfing (hrs/wk) 8.94±0.93 10.38±1.9
wearing 2-mm wetsuits in the field suggest there is a heterogeneous convective heat loss across the body during
recreational surfing5. Although similar observations have also been made in women, there may be regional
differences in heat loss between sexes because women have approximately 10% more fat mass in contrast to males
of the same body mass index who have more fat free mass6. Preliminary data in women collected in the field suggest
that differences in skin temperature may exist between men and women7. However, environmental factors may have
contributed to the deviation in skin temperature between the two sexes.
Conclusions

Purpose • Male subjects had significantly higher skin temperature at the upper arm and upper leg
while female subjects had significantly higher skin temperature at the lower arm
The purpose of this study was to perform a controlled investigation of skin and core temperatures between
(Figure 1).
male and female surfers wearing a 1.5-mm wetsuit. We hypothesized that females will maintain higher
core and lower skin temperatures due to higher body fat percentage. • These differences were potentially due to the significant differences in body fat
percentage in the arm and leg, total body composition (Figure 2), and height and mass
(Table 2).
Methods • These findings suggest that future wetsuit designs should account for potential sex
Subjects:
differences in skin temperature.
• Seventeen recreational surfers (9 male, 8 female), between the ages of 18 and 45.
• Inclusion participation criteria included having at least 5 years of surfing experience.
• Informed consent and surfing demographic questionnaire forms were filled out by subjects prior to participation. References
Procedures:
● Body composition measured using InBody. 1. Moran, K., and J. Webber. (2013). Surfing injuries requiring first aid in New Zealand, 2007-2012. International
● Subjects were instrumented with eight wireless iButton thermal sensors (chest, back, lower abdomen, lower Figure 3: Average core temperature was not found to be significantly different Figure 4: Average heart rate was not found to be significantly different between Journal of Aquatic Research and Education 7: 192-203.
back, arm, forearm, thigh, and calf), a heart rate monitor, a wireless T-pill, and a custom 1.5-mm full wetsuit. between males (n=9) and females (n=8) at p<0.05 (p=0.497). males (n=9) and females (n=8) at p<0.05 (p=0.289). 2. Mendez-Villanueva, A., Perez-Landaluce, J., Bishop, D., Fernandez-Garcia, B., Ortolano, R., Leibar, X., & Terrados,
N. (2005). Upper body aerobic fitness comparison between two groups of competitive surfboard riders. J. Sci Med
● Skin and core temperature and heart rate measurements were obtained at 1-minute intervals.
Sport, 8(1), 43-51.
● Following instrumentation, subjects engaged in a sixty-minute simulated surfing protocol in a flume and
3. Mendez-Villanueva, A., Bishop, D. (2005). Physiological aspects of surfboard riding performance. J Sports
alternated between sitting, laying, duck diving, and paddling at 1-minute intervals. Table 1: Air temperature (p=0.981), flume water temperature (p=0.728), and relative humidity (p=0.083) were not found to be significantly different at p<0.05.
Medicine, 35(1).
● Swim flume speed was set at 1.2 m/s and increased 0.2 m/s every 20 min. 4. Nimmo, M. (2004). Exercise in the cold. Journal of Sports Sciences, 22(10): 898-916.
Measurements: Flume Environmental Characteristics 5. Corona, L.J., Simmons, G.H., Nessler, J.A., & Newcomer, S.C. (2018). Characterisation of regional skin
● Body Composition: InBody Composition Analysis test. temperatures in recreational surfers wearing a 2-mm wetsuit. Ergonomics, 61(5), 729-735.
● Heart Rate: Baseline heart rate was obtained (RCX5 receiver and T32 recorder, Polar). 6. Jackson, A.S., Stanforth, P.R., Gagnon, J., Rankinen, T., Leon, A.S., Rao, D.C., Skinner, J.S., Bouchard, C., &
● Skin Temp: Skin temperature was recorded every minute (DS1922L iButton, Maxim Integrated).
Male Female Wilmore, J.H. (2002). The effect of sex, age and race on estimating percentage body fat from body mass index: The
● Core Temp: Baseline core temperature was obtained (CorTemp Data & Recorder, HQ Inc.).
heritage family study. International Journal of Obesity, 26(1), 789-796.
7. Kessler, M. (2018). Characterization of regional skin temperatures in recreational female surfers wearing a 2-mm
● Environmental: Humidity, ambient air temperature, and water temperature were acquired before the start of each Ambient Air Temperature (°C) 19.3±1.45 19.4±0.75
wetsuit. (Submitted).
protocol (Vantage Vue, Davis Instruments).
Statistical Analysis:
• Statistical Significance was set at p<0.05. All data is presented as mean ± SE.
Water Temperature (°C) 15.9±0.09 16.0±0.09 Acknowledgements
• Microsoft Excel was used for statistical analysis.
• T-tests were used to identify significant differences between male and female data of skin and core temperatures, Relative Humidity (%) 63.0±6.85 44.0±7.74 We would like to acknowledge Natalie Skillern, Morgan Simmons, the students of the California State
heart rate, subject and flume environmental characteristics. This data was displayed through various bar graphs University, San Marcos Kinesiology 326 class for their assistance in data collection, and the surfers who
and tables. participated in our research study.