Human studies concerning thermal-induced shivering, postoperative "shivering," and cold-induced vasodilation

• Published in: Annals of emergency medicine Vol. 16; no. 9; p. 1037
• Main Authors: Pozos, R S, Israel, D, McCutcheon, R, Wittmers, Jr, L E, Sessler, D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-1987
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Anesthesia Recovery Period; Body Temperature; Cold Temperature; Electromyography; Female; Humans; Hypothermia - physiopathology; Male; Middle Aged; Shivering; Temperature; Vasodilation
• ISSN: 0196-0644
• DOI: 10.1016/S0196-0644(87)80756-4

Human reaction to cold stress and hypothermia involves shivering. Another form of overt shaking, postoperative shivering, has been attributed as a thermoregulatory response to postoperative hypothermia. Analysis of the normal human shivering pattern showed a synchronized, slow amplitude modulation (six to eight cycles/min) over all muscles sampled. In addition, there was a frequency of 8 to 10 Hz associated with each low-frequency amplitude modulation. EMG signals from postoperative patients revealed none of the major patterns seen in thermal-induced shivering. Cold-induced vasodilation also was studied and found to occur simultaneously in all cold-stressed fingers regardless of size or innervation. Thermal shivering and cold-induced vasodilation are considered to be manifestations of central neural oscillators.