Age-related Changes in Thermal Sensory Thresholds of Skin

Abstract

Thermal sensory thresholds of 85 healthy subjects with aormal height to weight range, and classified into five age groups between 10 to 60 years were measured and analysed statistically. Measurements were carried out with an electronic device at two 'different sites; forehead (FH) and finger-tip (Fr), almost at constant (28-32C) ambient temperature and rel.,i(ive humidity (00- 65%). Since no significant sex difference was observed in any.,igc group at either.,,iie, data for both sexes %k,cre pooled to comliute the groupmeans.Thc agegroul)sshowed different mean thermal sensory threshold levels which progressively increased with age at both the sites. The analysis of variance among the groups was found to be significant at 1% for both FH and FT. While the data in groups 1 to 3 were relatively homogenous, greater variability was found in groups 4 and 5. The threshold level, y, and the age group mean, x, could be related by an empirical equation y = A + B in x, where A = 30.85 for FH and 27.82 for Fr and B = 1.37 for FH and 3.39 for FT.