Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (2020) 9:13

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13721-019-0217-1

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Two‑dimensional finite element model to study the effect of periodic

physical exercise on temperature distribution in peripheral regions
of human limbs
Babita kumari1 · Neeru Adlakha1

Received: 24 June 2019 / Revised: 9 December 2019 / Accepted: 30 December 2019

© Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature 2020

Abstract
The human body regulates the body core temperature at a uniform temperature to maintain the structure and function of vari-
ous physical and physiological processes. The physical exertion causes thermal stress which can disturb these mechanisms
of thermoregulation under various environmental conditions and can lead to impairment of physiological functions. In view
of the above, a finite element model has been developed to study thermal stress in peripheral regions of human limbs during
periodic exercise and rest. It is assumed that the subject is doing exercise periodically by taking rest at regular intervals. The
human limb is assumed to be of cylindrical shape. The peripheral region of a limb is divided into three natural components,
namely epidermis, dermis and subdermal parts. Appropriate boundary conditions have been framed based on physical con-
ditions of the problem. Finite element has been employed along radial and angular directions, and the finite difference is
employed for time variable to obtain the solution. The numerical results have been used to obtain temperature profiles and
study the effect of light-, moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities on thermal distribution in human limbs under moderate
and hot climatic conditions. The results obtained by the present model are in agreement with the physiological facts and can
be employed to predict the amount of acclimatization and rest required to cope up with such thermal stresses. Such models
can be developed further to obtain thermal information in human organs involving physical exercise. This thermal informa-
tion can be useful for developing strategies for the time period of different intensities of physical exercise and rest required
for optimum performance of sportsman, labourers, workers and military person. Also the thermal information obtained from
such models can be useful for developing protocols for heat stress required for therapeutic purposes during infection and
physical exercise prescriptions for healthy lifestyles.

Keywords  Metabolic heat generation · Blood mass flow rate · Thermal conductivity · Finite element method · Periodic
exercise

1 Introduction regulation of body core temperature at 37 °C is necessary for

The thermosensitivity, thermoregulation and thermoprotection
are the key features which give the capability to human beings
to sense and regulate body core temperature and protect the
inner parts of the body from the external environment. The
* Babita kumari
babitak54@gmail.com
Neeru Adlakha
neeru.adlakha21@gmail.com
1 2008; Folk et al. 1998; Gisolfi and Mora 2000). Therefore,
Department of Applied Mathematics and Humanities, S.V.
National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat 395007,
India
maintenance of structure and function of the body organs. A
deviation of 3.5 °C from the resting body core temperature of
37 °C can cause damage to the various organs of the human
body (Lim et al. 2008). The physical exertion due to any physi-
cal work or exercise can cause a substantial increase in meta-
bolic heat generation, leading to heat stress which is a challenge
to human thermoregulation system. Under thermolytic range,
the thermoregulation mechanisms can cope up with the heat
stress caused by physical exertion, but beyond this thermolytic
range the heat stress can lead to decrease in the performance,
fatigue and damage to the organs of human body (Lim et al.
it is of vital importance to understand the thermoregulation
of human body at rest and during exercise to protect human

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subjects from heat injury due to physical exertion and develop
strategies for managing heat stress and physical performance of
the human body. Also the therapeutic value of heat during infec-
tion and exercise prescription for healthy lifestyles are reported
in the literature (Lim et al. 2008). The human thermoregulation
system maintains the body core temperature at a uniform tem-
perature of 37 °C by maintaining balance between heat genera-
tion within the body tissues and heat loss from the body surface
to the environment. The human peripheral regions, namely skin
and subdermal tissues (SST), being the medium of interaction
between the body and the environment play an important role
in this thermoregulation. The heat generated within the body
tissues is transported through this SST region to the surface
of the body by conduction and perfusion of blood. The SST
region consists of three layers, namely epidermis, dermis and
subdermal tissues. The epidermis consists of dead cells and
is devoid of blood vessels (Agrawal et al. 2011; Saxena and
Bindra 1984; Saxena and Pardasani 1987). The blood flow and
metabolic activity are negligible in epidermis, and the density
of blood vessels and metabolic activity increases as we go down
the dermis and becomes almost uniform in the subdermal part.
This gives us the idea about variation of physiological param-
eters in the different layers of SST region (Mitchell et al. 1970).
The physical exercise leads to increase in the blood flow and
metabolic activity. The metabolic activity varies between 1 and
2.9 times of the normal metabolic activity during light-intensity
activities like sleeping, watching television, writing, typing and
slow walking (2.5 mph). At moderate-intensity activities like
bicycling, home exercise, walking (3.5 mph), etc., the metabolic
activity varies between 3 and 5.5 times of that in normal condi-
tions at rest. For high- and vigorous-intensity activities like jog-
ging, running, roping and jumping, etc., the metabolic activity
varies from 6 to 10 times of that in normal conditions at rest. In
the same way, blood flow is 1–2 times for moderate-intensity
activities and 2–4 times of that at rest during vigorous-intensity
activities (Lim et al. 2008).
Earlier, experimental investigations were carried out by
Patterson (1976) to determine temperature profiles in the
human peripheral regions. Some theoretical investigations
have been carried out during the last few decades by Cooper
and Trezek (1972), Chao et al. (1973), Saxena and Bindra
(1984) and Saxena and Pardasani (1987) to study temperature
distribution in the SST region using analytical and numeri-
cal techniques. These investigations were performed under
normal environmental and physiological conditions. Also
attempts have been made by Pardasani and Saxena (1989),
Pardasani and Adlakha (1993, 1995) and Agrawal et  al.
(2011, 2015, 2016) to study problems involving abnormali-
ties like tumours in SST regions of human body. Naik and
Pardasani (2018, 2019) have applied finite element method
to study the calcium distribution in oocyte cell for two- and
three-dimensional cases. Kumar et al. (2018) have studied the
calcium distribution in T lymphocyte cell for one-dimensional
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(2020) 9:13
case. Khanday and Khalid (2017) developed a model to study
the cancerous tissue on heat therapy. Gurung et al. (2009)
used quadratic shape functions in variational finite element
approach to study the temperature distribution in human
dermal parts for one-dimensional unsteady-state case. Some
models have been developed by Pardasani and Jas (2000)
for temperature variation in human limbs for one- and two-
dimensional steady-state cases under normal physiological
and environmental conditions. Makrariya and Adlakha (2013,
2015, 2019) developed a finite element model to study the
thermographic patterns in women’s breast due to uniformly
perfused tumours and menstrual cycle in dermal tissues of
spherical organs of a human body. Makrariya and Pardasani
(2019) studied the numerical effect of non-uniformly perfused
tumour on heat transfer in women’s breast during menstrual
cycle under cold environment. Kumari and Adlakha (2013,
2016, 2017) have studied temperature distribution in human
peripheral regions due to physical exercise for a one- and two-
dimensional unsteady-state case. Torii et al. (1992) studied
the effect of exercise on fall in skin temperature during initial
muscular work in ten healthy men. Lim et al. (2008) have also
studied the human thermoregulation during exercise and the
measurement of body temperature in clinical and exercise set-
tings. But no attempt is reported in the literature for the study
of effect of different intensities of periodic physical activity
on two-dimensional thermal dynamics in human body organs.
Here, a finite element model is proposed to study the ther-
mal stress caused in peripheral regions of human limbs due to
light-, moderate- and vigorous-intensity activities being per-
formed periodically with rest at regular intervals. This study
is performed at moderate and high atmospheric temperatures
for a two-dimensional unsteady-state case. The human limb
is assumed to be of circular cross section. The outer surface
of the limb is assumed to be exposed to the environment, and
appropriate boundary condition is incorporated.
2 Mathematical model
The heat flow in human body tissues is governed by the fol-
lowing partial differential equation (Perl 1962):
( )
𝜕T
𝜌c = Div(K.gradT) + mb cb (TA − T) + S . (1)
𝜕t
The first, second and third terms on the right-hand side of
Eq. (1) are, respectively, the Fick’s law of diffusion, Fick’s per-
fusion principle and rate of metabolic heat generation. Here,
𝜌 , c , K and S, respectively, denote the density, specific heat,
thermal conductivity and rate of metabolic heat generation
in tissues. T and TA denote the tissue and arterial blood tem-
perature, respectively. Also, mb and cb are the blood mass flow
rate and specific heat of the blood, respectively, and M = mbcb.
Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (2020) 9:13 Page 3 of 13  13

Equation (1) for a two-dimensional unsteady-state case in

cylindrical polar form may be written as:
( ) ( ) ( )
𝜕T 1 𝜕 K 𝜕T 1 K 𝜕2T
𝜌c = + + mb cb (TA − T) + S .
𝜕t r 𝜕r r 𝜕r r r 𝜕𝜃 2
(2)
The boundary condition at the outer surface due to heat
loss at outer surface by conduction, convection and radiation
is given by (Agrawal et al. 2015):

𝜕T ||
−K
𝜕r ||r=r9 =5.8
= h(T − Ta ) + LE at r = rn , t > 0, (3)

where h is the heat transfer coefficient, Ta is the atmospheric

temperature, and L and E are, respectively, the latent heat
and rate of sweat evaporation.
The inner core of the limb is maintained at a uniform tem-
perature Tb. Thus, the boundary condition at the inner bound-
ary is given by:
T(r0 , 𝜃) = Tb r = r0 . (4) Fig. 1  Circular cross section and finite element mesh of peripheral
regions in a human or animal limb
Now the peripheral region of the limb is divided into eight
layers with radius r0, r1, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6, r7 and r8. The outer- ( ) ( )
𝜋 𝜋
most layer is the epidermis. Below the epidermis are the three s(t) = C3 sin t + C4 cos t, (6)
l l
layers of dermis followed by four layers of subdermal tissues.
The innermost part is the limb core consisting of bone, mus- where C1, C2, C3 and C4 are the constants, respectively.
cles, large blood vessels, etc. These layers have been further The assumptions regarding K, M and S are as given below:
discretized into 64 circular sectoral elements with two of its
sides curved along angular direction and 72 nodes. The angu- � �
⎫
Subdermal r0 ≤ r < r4 ∶
lar points of each element are the nodes as shown in Fig. 1 ⎪
⎪
(Kumari and Adlakha 2017). Ki = Ks = Constant, Mi = m(t), Si = s(t) i = 0(1)4 ⎪
� � ⎪
It is assumed that the human subject does a physical exer- Dermis r4 ≤ r < r7 ∶ ⎪
� � ⎬.
cise for some period of time and then takes rest for a period of Ki = Ks + Ke ∕2 , Mi = m(t)∕2, Si = s(t)∕2 i = 4(1)7⎪
⎪
time and again repeats the cycle of physical exercise and rest � �
Epidermis r7 ≤ r ≤ r8 ∶ ⎪
⎪
during alternate periods. Thus, the blood flow and metabolic ⎪
Ke = Constant, Mi = 0, Si = 0 i = 7, 8 ⎭
activity also keeps on increasing and decreasing in alternate
(7)
periods. In view of the above, as a special case the following
periodic variation of blood mass flow rate and rate of meta- Here, m and s are functions of time and given by expres-
bolic heat generation with respect to time has been assumed. sions (5) and (6). Ke and Ks represent thermal conductivity
m(t) = mmax, s(t) = smax, where t = nl, n = even integer, in epidermis and subdermal tissues, respectively. Also r is
l = period the radius between the layers, and values are taken as r0 =
m(t) =  mmin, s(t) = s min t = nl, when n = odd integer, 5 cm, r1 = 5.1 cm, r2=5.2 cm, r3 = 5.3 cm, r4 = 5.4 cm, r5 =
l = period 5.5 cm, r6 = 5.6 cm, r7 = 5.7 cm and r8 = 5.8 cm. The finite
( ) ( ) element mesh for circular region is shown in Fig. 1.
𝜋 𝜋 The discretized variational form of Eq. (2) along with
m(t) = C1 sin t + C2 cos t, (5)
l l Eqs. (3) and (4) is given by:

� � �2 � �2 � ⎫
1 𝜕T (e) 𝜕T (e) 𝜕(T (e) )2 −
I (e)
= K (e)
+ (e) (e) 2
+ M (TA − T ) − 2S T + 𝜌 c (e) (e)
drd𝜃 ⎪
2∬ 𝜕r 𝜕𝜃 𝜕t ⎪
⎬, (8)
𝜆(e) � (e) � ⎪
+ h(T − Ta )2 + 2LET (e) e=1 d𝜃 ⎪
2 ∫ ⎭

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where e = 1(1)64. ⎡ 0 0 0 0⎤
The following bilinear shape function for the variation ⎢
⎢ . . . . ⎥⎥
of temperature within each element has been taken as:
⎢ 1 0 0 0⎥
⎢ ⎥
T (e) = c1(e) + c2(e) r + c(e)
3
𝜃 + c4(e) r𝜃 , (9) (e) ⎢ 0 1 0 0⎥ �64
where M =⎢ ⎥ and I = I (e) . (17)
⎢ 0 0 1 0⎥
where c(e) , c(e) , c(e) and c(e) are constants for the eth element. e=1
1 2 3 4 ⎢ 0 0 0 1⎥
Expression (9) is rewritten as: ⎢ ⎥
⎢ . . . . ⎥
T (e) = PT c(e) , (10) ⎢ ⎥
[ ( ) [ ] ] ⎣ 0 0 0 0⎦
T
where PT = 1 r 𝜃 r𝜃 and c(e) = c(e) c(e) (e) (e)
c c  .
From Eqs. (9) and (10), we get
1 2 3 4
The integral I is extremized with respect to each nodal tem-
perature Ti (i = 1, 2……72). We obtain the system of ordinary
T (e) = P(e) c(e) , (11) differential equations as given below:

⎡ Ti ⎤ ⎡ 1 ri 𝜃i ri 𝜃i ⎤ dT
⎢ T ⎥ ⎢ 1 rj 𝜃j rj 𝜃j ⎥ U + XT = Y . (18)
where T (e) = ⎢ ⎥ and P = ⎢
j (e) dt
rk 𝜃k ⎥⎥
.
⎢ Tk ⎥ ⎢ 1 rk 𝜃k [ ] [ ] [ ]
⎣ Tl ⎦ ⎣ 1 rl 𝜃l rl 𝜃l ⎦ Here, X = Xij 72×72 Y = Yi 72×1 T = Tj 72×1 , U =
[ ]
From Eq. (11) we have Uij 72×72 .
The backward finite difference method has been used to
c(e) = R(e) T (e) , (12) solve Eq. (18).
where R(e) = P(e)−1 .
Substituting c(e) from Eq. (12) in Eq. (10), we get

T (e) = PT R(e) T (e) . (13) 3 Numerical results and discussion

Now, the integral I (e) can be in the form: The values of biophysical parameters like metabolic heat
generation, thermal conductivity, blood mass flow rate,
I (e) = Ik(e) + Im(e) − Is(e) + I𝜌(e) + I𝜆(e) , (14) baseline temperature, baseline fitness, etc. will vary from
𝜃k rj [ ( )2 ( )2 ] person to person based on environmental conditions and
1 𝜕T (e) 𝜕T (e) their demographic characteristics like ethnicity, gender,
Ik(e) = K (e)
+ drd𝜃,
2∫ ∫ 𝜕r 𝜕𝜃 age, clothing, etc. The particular values of these biophysical
𝜃i ri
parameters with respect to the environmental conditions and
𝜃k rj
demographic characteristics of the subjects under study can
1
Im(e) = M (e) (TA − T (e) )2 drd𝜃, be substituted in the model to obtain the numerical results.
2∫ ∫
𝜃i ri For the purpose of illustration, the computations have been
where rj performed for two cases of atmospheric temperatures:
𝜃k
[ (e) (e) ] ua = 23 °C and 33 °C. The values of M, S and E have been
Is(e) = S T drd𝜃,
∫ ∫ taken accordingly for a nude subject exposed to the environ-
𝜃i ri
ment based on data for a particular subject under study as
given in Table 1 (Agrawal et al. 2011, 2016; Kumari and
𝜃k rj
− 𝜕(T (e) )2
I𝜌(e) = 𝜌c drd𝜃, Adlakha 2013).
∫ ∫ dt
𝜃i ri Here, m and s are rates of blood mass flow and metabolic
𝜆(e) 𝜃 [ ] activity in tissues when body is at complete rest. The values
and I𝜆(e) = 2
∫𝜃 j h(T (e) − Ta )2 + 2LET (e) e=1 d𝜃 ,
i

dI (e) dIk(e) dIm(e) dIs(e) dI𝜌(e) dIz(e)

= + − + + . (15) Table 1  Numerical values of M, S and E (Agrawal et al. 2011, 2016;
dT (e) dT (e) dT (e) dT (e) dT (e) dT (e) Kumari and Adlakha 2013)
On substituting values of equations, we get Atmospheric s (cal/cm3-min) m = mbcb (cal/ E (× 10−3 Kg.m−2
temp Ta (°C) cm3-min °C) ­S−1)
dI ∑
N
(e) dI (e) (e)T
= M M , (16) 23 0.018 0.018 0, 0.24, 0.48
dT e=1 dT (e) 33 0.018 0.0315 0.24, 0.48, 0.72

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Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics
of other parameters are taken as given below (Agrawal et al.
2011, 2016; Kumari and Adlakha 2013).
h = 0.009 cal/cm2-min, L = 579 cal/gm, Ke = 0.030 cal/cm-
min°C for epidermis, Kd = 0.045 cal/cm-min°C for dermis,
Ks = 0.060 cal/cm-min°C for subdermal part, Tb = 37 °C,
ρ = 1.090 gms/cm2, c = 0.830 cal/gm-°C.
The graphs have been plotted for three cases of physi-
cal exercise, and accordingly, the values of blood flow and
metabolic activity are taken as given below (Kumari and
Adlakha 2016, 2017):
Case 1: Light-intensity physical exercise
mmin = m , smin = s
mmax = 1 × m , smax = 2.9 × s.
Case 2: Moderate-intensity physical exercise.
mmin = m , smin = s
.
mmax = 2 × m , smax = 5.5 × s.
Case 3: High-/vigorous-intensity physical exercise
mmin = m , smin = s
. because in Fig. 5, 6 and 7, the subject does the exercise and
mmax = 4 × m , smax = 10 × s.
Figure 2 shows temperature distribution in peripheral
region of human limb with respect to time and radius when
theta is zero and period l = 2.5 min for case 1: light-inten-
sity physical exercise at Ta = 23 °C and E = 0.24 × 10–3 g/
cm2-min θ = 0. Figure 3 shows radial and temporal temper-
ature distribution in peripheral region of human limb for
case 2: moderate-intensity physical exercise at Ta = 23 °C
and E = 0.24 × 10–3 g/cm2-min θ = 0. Figure 4 shows radial
and temporal temperature distribution for case 3: high-/
vigorous-intensity physical exercise at Ta = 23  °C and
E = 0.24 × 10–3 g/cm2-min θ = 0. Figures 2, 3 and 4 show
that the temperature is constant at 37 °C at r = 5 cm, and as
we move away from inner core (r = 5 cm) towards the outer
Fig. 2  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.24 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
1, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0
(2020) 9:13 Page 5 of 13  13
surface (r = 5.8 cm), the temperature profile starts increas-
ing from t = 0 to t = 2.5 min and then starts decreasing from
t = 2.5 min up to t = 5 min, and the same cycle is repeated
again and again after every 5 min. This periodic cycle is
observed due to the periodic exercise being carried out by
the subject under study. Also Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show that the
amplitude of the periodically changing temperature profile
increases with the increase in the intensity of the physical
exercise. Also the surface temperature is higher in peripheral
regions of human limbs for high-intensity physical exercise.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 show radial and temporal tempera-
ture distribution in peripheral regions of human limbs for
Ta = 23  °C and E = 0.24 × 10−3  g/cm2-min θ = 0, period
l = 5 min and for cases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Figures 5, 6
and 7 show the similar behaviour of temperature profiles as
shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, but the results in Figs. 5, 6 and 7
differ in their periods of each cycle and amplitude. This is
rest alternatively for the periods almost double the periods of
each cycle in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Also the surface temperature
of peripheral layers of human limbs is higher in Figs. 5, 6
and 7 than that in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 show radial and temporal tempera-
ture distribution in peripheral regions of human limbs for
Ta = 23  °C and E = 0.24 × 10−3  g/cm2-min, θ = 0, period
l = 5 min and for cases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Compar-
ing Figs. 8, 9 and 10 with Figs. 2, 3 and 4, it is observed
that surface temperature is lower in Figs. 8, 9 and 10 than
that in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, respectively. This indicates that the
surface temperature decreases with the increase in the rate
of evaporation.
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Fig. 3  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.24 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
2, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

Fig. 4  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.24 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
3, period l = 2.5 min and θ  = 0

Figures 11, 12 and 13 show radial and temporal tem-
perature distribution in peripheral regions of human limbs
for Ta = 33 °C and E = 0.48 × 10−3 g/cm2-min θ = 0, period
l = 2.5 min and for cases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Comparing
Figs. 11, 12 and 13 with Figs. 8, 9 and 10, it is observed that
surface temperature is higher in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 than that
in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. This indicates that surface temperatures
rise with the increase in the atmospheric temperature.
Figures 14, 15 and 16 show radial and temporal tem-
perature distribution in peripheral regions of human limbs
for Ta = 33 °C and E = 0.72 × 10−3 g/cm2-min θ = 0, period
l = 2.5 min and for cases 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The sur-
face temperatures of peripheral regions of human limbs
in Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are lower than that in Figs. 11, 12
and 13. This again implies that the surface temperature
of human limbs decreases with the increase in the rate of

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Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (2020) 9:13 Page 7 of 13  13

Fig. 5  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.24 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
1, period l = 5 min and θ  = 0

Fig. 6  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.24 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
2, period l = 5 min and θ = 0

evaporation. The thermal patterns obtained for different
intensities of physical exercises under different atmos-
pheric conditions give us the idea of thermal stress caused
by the physical exercise.
4 Conclusion
A finite element model was proposed and employed to
study the effect of thermal stress due to periodic physical
exercise on temperature distribution in peripheral layers
of human limbs for a two-dimensional case. The results
were obtained for three cases of physical exercise, namely
low-intensity, medium-intensity and high-intensity physi-
cal exercises, at moderate and high atmospheric tempera-
tures and different interval periods of rest and exercise. At
low periodic intervals of rest and exercise, the oscillations
in temperature profiles are more as compared to those for
higher periodic intervals of rest and exercises. This implies
that exercise has quite significant effect on temperature
profiles in a subject doing exercise periodically. The
results also indicate significant increase in the temperature

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Fig. 7  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.24 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
3, period l = 5 min and θ  = 0

Fig. 8  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.48 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
1, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

of tissues in response to the increase in the intensity of
physical exercise. However, the increase in the rates of
evaporation decreases the effect of thermal stress due to
physical exercise. Thus, sweat evaporation plays an impor-
tant role in coping with the thermal stress due to physical
exercise and acclimatization of an individual to such ther-
mal stresses. The present model was simulated using the
values of physiological parameters for a particular case of
normal nude subject exposed to the environment. However,
these values of physical and physiological parameters will
vary with the subject under study depending on environ-
mental conditions and their demographic characteristics
like age, sex, gender, ethnicity, clothing, etc. The present
model can be used to predict the effect of thermal stress
due to physical exercise by substituting values of physical
and physiological parameters based on the environmental

13
Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (2020) 9:13 Page 9 of 13  13

Fig. 9  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.48 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
2, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

Fig. 10  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 23 °C and
E = 0.48 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
3, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

conditions and their characteristics. The results obtained by
the present model are in agreement with the physiological
facts and can be employed to predict the amount of accli-
matization and rest required to cope up with such thermal
stresses. The coaxial circular sectoral elements used in
finite element discretization are quite useful to represent
the realistic structure of peripheral regions of the human
limbs. The finite element approach has proved to be quite
versatile in the present study as it was possible to incorpo-
rate the variation in the parameters in each subregion. Such

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 13   Page 10 of 13 Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (2020) 9:13

Fig. 11  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 33 °C and
E = 0.48 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
1, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

Fig. 12  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 33 °C and
E = 0.48 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
2, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

models can be developed further to obtain thermal infor-
mation in human organs involving physical exercise. This
thermal information can be useful for developing strate-
gies for the time period of different intensities of physi-
cal exercise and rest required for optimum performance of
sportsman, labourers, workers and military person. Also
the thermal information obtained from such models can be
useful for developing protocols for heat stress required for
therapeutic purposes during infection and physical exercise
prescriptions for healthy lifestyles.

13
Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (2020) 9:13 Page 11 of 13  13

Fig. 13  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 33 °C and
E = 0.48 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
3, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

Fig. 14  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 33 °C and
E = 0.72 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
1, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

13
 13   Page 12 of 13 Network Modeling Analysis in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics (2020) 9:13

Fig. 15  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 33 °C and
E = 0.72 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
2, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

Fig. 16  Spatiotemporal
temperature distribution in
peripheral region of human
limbs for Ta = 33 °C and
E = 0.72 × 10−3 g/cm2-min, case
3, period l = 2.5 min and θ = 0

Acknowledgement  This work has been carried out under the Bioin-
formatics Infrastructure Facility of Department of Biotechnology, New
Delhi, India, at SVNIT, Surat.
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