Effects of exercise intensity, posture, pressure on the back and ambient temperature on palmar sweating responses due to handgrip exercises in humans

We have, by using newly developed ratemeters, attempted to examine the effects of exercise intensity, posture, pressure on the skin of the back, and ambient hyperthermic conditions (∼30 °C) on the 5-s handgrip exercise-mediated responses of active palmar sweating in humans. Thirty-five right-handed male (n = 5) and female (n = 30) volunteer students (20.2 ± 1.3 years old) participated in the present study. Oral explanation of only the isometric handgrip exercise (IHG) caused a rapid and oscillatory response (pre-operational) of active palmar sweating in almost all subjects (10 of 14 subjects). Performing the IHG for 5-s caused a significant increase in active sweating rate (operation-mediated response) in both ipsi- and contra-lateral palmar surfaces of the thumbs of all subjects. The operation-mediated responses of active palmar sweating to the IHG were reproducible, resulting in no habituation. The increase of operation-mediated responses to the IHG was dependent upon exercise intensity (100-25% maximal voluntary contractions). The IHG-mediated ipsi- and contra-lateral responses of active palmar sweating were significantly decreased by changing the body posture from a seated to a supine position or by pressing the skin of the back. Ambient hyperthermic conditions (∼30 °C) for 60 min also resulted in a significant decrease in the back-pressure-dependent reduction of the operation-mediated responses of active palmar sweating to the IHG. In conclusion, in order to optimize the precision and reproducibility of clinical tests involving palmar sweating responses, it is important that subjects maintain a constant handgrip force and posture and that ambient temperature be kept under normothermic conditions.