Do exist gender differences in skin temperature of lower limbs following exercise test in male and female cross‑country skiers?

Abstract

The aim of study was to assess the skin temperature changes over selected muscles zones of the lower limbs following an exercise performed at similar relative external workload in 10 male and 6 female high-trained cross-country skiers. The first stage of experiment involved preliminary exercise to determine individual oxygen uptake VO2max and anaerobic threshold. The second stage experimental exercise consisted of 60 min running on treadmill with 80% of determined VO2max Thermographic imaging of lower limbs was performed, before, immediately after exercise and during recovery. Physiological parameters: VO2, MET—metabolic energy equivalent, heart rate and internal temperature were assessed at rest and at the end of exercise, respectively. Infrared thermography showed that at rest the skin temperature over lower limb muscles was significantly higher in men than in women. In response to exercise an increase in skin temperature over the studied muscles was significantly higher in women than men. Since was no significant difference in skin temperature in men and women after exercise. Before the test, no physiological parameter was significantly different in women and men. Exercise test reveled significant differences between men and women in some physiological parameters such as VO2 and MET. Our study showed that there are significant differences in lower limbs skin temperature between male and female at rest but not at the end of exercise test. Women in comparison with men had a greater increase in skin temperature in response to exercise and a persistence of elevated temperature over muscles of lower limbs after exercise.