Individuals with down syndrome exhibit reduced skin thermo sensitivity response during intermittent physical exercise

Introduction: The Down Syndrome (DS) individuals usually present decreased aerobic capacity concomitant with reductions in peak oxygen consumption. An important aspect to maintain performance and consequently the work rate during acute physical exercise is body temperature (Tbody) regulation. No study has evaluated the skin thermoeffector response as well as Tbody adjustments in DS individuals during acute physical exercise. Objective: To assess skin temperature (Tskin) adjustments in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) during intermittent physical exercise. Methods: Two experimental groups composed of control male individuals without DS (CON; n = 6; 32.17 ±3.71 years) and male individuals with DS (DS; n = 6; 33.0 ±4.2 years), paired by body surface area (BSA) and age, were used. Two experimental sessions were carried out. In the first session anthropometric measurements and a progressive exercise test until fatigue (workload in W) were performed. In the second, voluntaries underwent a submaximal exercise protocol (65% of the workload attained in the first session). Heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean (MAP) blood pressures, gastrointestinal temperature (Ttgi) and Tskinthermoeffector data were collected. Results:No differences were observed between CON and DS groups in HR, SBP, DBP, MAP and Ttgi during exercise. DBP increased over time in DS group. Related to Tskin, no differences were observed in the onset threshold (CON: 37.45 ±0.67 °C vs. DS: 37.19 ±0.50 °C; p>0.05) and the DS group presented lower thermosensitivity compared to CON (CON: 4.61 ±3.05 vs. DS: 1.84 ±1.34). Conclusion: Individuals with DS exhibitreducedskin thermosensitivity response during intermittent physical exercise.