• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.342-353
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to evaluate far-infrared clothing (FIR condition) with non-far-infrared clothing (Control condition) to assess the effects of FIR on thermo-physiological responses. Eight young healthy males (23.0±2.3 yr, 176.5±3.7 cm, and 69.0±4.3 kg) participated in this experimental trial, which consisted of a 20 min rest followed by a 40 min walk (4.0 km·hr^-1) and a 20 min recovery at 20℃ with 50%RH. The results showed that finger skin blood flow and mean skin temperature were significantly higher for the FIR condition than the control during exercise and recovery (p<.001). Clothing microclimate temperature of the FIR condition was 0.5℃ higher on the back (p=.001) and 0.4℃ higher on the thigh (p=.015) during recovery. Clothing microclimate relative humidity of the FIR condition was 13% higher on the chest (p=.006) and 19% higher on the back (p<.001) during exercise than control. Subjects felt warmer and more comfortable in the FIR condition than in the control (p<.05). Perceived skin wettedness (%BSA) was less in the FIR condition than in the control (p=.001). These results indicate that ceramic-embedded clothing had significant effects on thermoregulatory responses for light activity in an indoor environment.