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Thermal and cardiovascular strain imposed by motorcycle protective clothing under Australian summer conditions |
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| Authors: | Liz de Rome Elizabeth A. Taylor Rodney J. Croft Julie Brown Michael Fitzharris |
| Affiliation: | 1. Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, Australia;2. Centre for Human and Applied Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia;3. School of Psychology, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia;4. Monash Injury Research Institute and Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia |
| Abstract: | Motorcycle protective clothing can be uncomfortably hot during summer, and this experiment was designed to evaluate the physiological significance of that burden. Twelve males participated in four, 90-min trials (cycling 30 W) across three environments (25, 30, 35 °C [all 40% relative humidity]). Clothing was modified between full and minimal injury protection. Both ensembles were tested at 25 °C, with only the more protective ensemble investigated at 30 and 35 °C. At 35 °C, auditory canal temperature rose at 0.02 °C min?1 (SD 0.005), deviating from all other trials (p < 0.05). The thresholds for moderate (>38.5 °C) and profound hyperthermia (>40.0 °C) were predicted to occur within 105 min (SD 20.6) and 180 min (SD 33.0), respectively. Profound hyperthermia might eventuate in ~10 h at 30 °C, but should not occur at 25 °C. These outcomes demonstrate a need to enhance the heat dissipation capabilities of motorcycle clothing designed for summer use in hot climates, but without compromising impact protection. Practitioner’s Summary: Motorcycle protective clothing can be uncomfortably hot during summer. This experiment was designed to evaluate the physiological significance of this burden across climatic states. In the heat, moderate (>38.5 °C) and profound hyperthermia (>40.0 °C) were predicted to occur within 105 and 180 min, respectively. |
| Keywords: | Core temperature heat loss heat strain metabolic heat production motorcycle clothing protective clothing protective equipment |