Validation of a Novel Method to Quantify Local Axilla Sweating: SweatSENSE

McGill, A, Cullen Tinley, E, Edwards, S, Jamieson, A, Shardey, J, Winterton, E, Ford, J, Hand, R, Efstathiou, S, Wemyss, A, Grypioti, M, Kirby, G, Barlow, T, Haddleton, D and Low, D Validation of a Novel Method to Quantify Local Axilla Sweating: SweatSENSE. Journal of Thermal Biology. ISSN 0306-4565 (Accepted)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to validate the ability of the novel SweatSENSE technique to measure local axilla sweating. The local axilla sweating responses to a range of physical activities were measured in 30 healthy females (28±5 yr, 163±7 cm; 62±9 kg). Participants completed low- to moderate-intensity treadmill walking, stepping, and cycling in a 3-hour protocol. Left axilla sweating was intermittently recorded using the novel SweatSENSE method, in which non-hydrochromic sweat-responsive paper sensors with PCDA polymer were placed in the axilla vault for 5 s. The sensors were analysed for the proportional colour change as an index of instantaneous local sweating. Percentage total sweat coverage (%TC) of the patches was determined. Ipsilateral axilla sweating was continuously recorded using capacitance hygrometry (CH). Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analyses was used to examine the agreement between the CH and SweatSENSE %TC data for each participant. Heart rate (HR), core (Tcore) and skin (Tsk) temperatures, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and thermal discomfort (TDR) were also recorded. Heart rate (100 ± 25 beats.min-1, P<0.05) and Tcore increased during the protocol (37.82 ± 0.23ºC, P<0.05). Thermal discomfort increased from ‘neutral’ to ‘warm’ and RPE increased to ‘somewhat hard’ during the protocol (both P<0.05). Local axilla sweating (CH and the SweatSENSE method) increased during each physical activity bout and progressively throughout the protocol (both P<0.05). Twenty one out of thirty participants demonstrated significant ICC between axilla SweatSENSE and capacitance hygrometry sweating data [average (95% confidence intervals] ICC ; 0.483 (0.191-0.713)) indicating a moderate agreement between SweatSENSE and capacitance hygrometry, suggesting a moderate level of validity of the SweatSENSE method.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	06 Biological Sciences; Physiology; 3109 Zoology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	1 July 2025
Date Deposited:	02 Jul 2025 09:59
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2025 10:00
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26689

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