Sex- and site-specific effects of local pressure on sweat rate at upper arm and wrist sweat measurement site during exercise in the heat.

Purpose: We investigated whether the application of local pressure on sweat capsules attenuates the sweat rate at the upper arm and wrist during exercise in the heat. Potential sex differences were also assessed. Methods: Twenty-four young adults (12 females) performed four bouts of 15-min cycling at moderate intensity (heart rate 120 bpm) in the heat (32°C, 50% RH). Bilateral local sweat rate was assessed using a ventilated capsule method on either the upper arm or wrist on separate days. Fist exercise bout was performed without any interventions while local pressure was applied afterwards on the unilateral sweat capsule using a leather belt. The pressure was increased in an incremental manner from the second to the fourth bouts of exercise. Results and Discussion: Applications of local skin pressure attenuated sweat rate on the upper arm compared to the contralateral side in both males and females at the third and fourth exercise bouts (P < 0.031). The attenuations were observed on the wrist in males but not females at any pressure interventions (P < 0.025). We showed that local skin pressure affects sweat rate in site- and sex-specific manners. It may help improve methodology in sweat research and develop a wearable sweat measurement device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]