Overview

This project will identify the efficacy of whole body skin wetting aimed to attenuate excessive elevations in internal body temperatures during physical activity in well-healed burn survivors. The investigators will conduct a randomized crossover design study. Non-burned control subjects, subjects who experienced burns covering ~20% to 40% of their body surface area, and subject having burns >40% of their body surface area will be investigated. Subjects will exercise in heated environmental conditions while receiving no cooling or whole body skin wetting.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria: Non-burn survivors

• Healthy male and female subjects
• 18-65 years of age.
• Free of any underlying medical conditions

Exclusion Criteria (non-burned individuals):

• Any burn-related injuries resulting in at least one night of hospitalization.
• Heart disease or any other chronic medical condition requiring regular medical therapy including cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.
• Abnormalities detected on routine screening
• Individuals who participate in a structured aerobic exercise training program at moderate to high intensities.
• Current smokers, as well as individuals who regularly smoked within the past 3 years.
• Body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m^2.
• Pregnant individuals

Inclusion Criteria (burn survivors):

• Healthy male and female subjects
• 18-65 years of age.
• Free of any underlying medical conditions
• Having a burn injury covering 20-40% or >40% of the participant's body surface area; at least 50% of those burn injuries must be full thickness that required skin grafting.
• Participants must have been hospitalized due to the burn injury for a minimum of 15 days

Exclusion Criteria (burn survivors):

• Any burn-related injuries resulting in at least one night of hospitalization.
• Heart disease or any other chronic medical condition requiring regular medical therapy including cancer, diabetes, and hypertension.
• Abnormalities detected on routine screening
• Individuals who participate in a structured aerobic exercise training program at moderate to high intensities.
• Current smokers, as well as individuals who regularly smoked within the past 3 years.
• Body mass index of greater than 30 kg/m^2.
• Pregnant individuals
• Extensive unhealed injured skin