The Right Activities at Right Spaces: Relationships between Elderly Adults’ Physical Activities and Thermal Responses

In this study, the physiological and thermal responses of 54 healthy elderly adults during horticultural activities with various intensities (low, moderate, high) in three typical open spaces were investigated through meteorological measurements, questionnaires, monitoring. Physiological equivalent temperature (PET), blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, ear canal used as evaluation indices. The results showed that: (1) proportional changes before after sensation vote (TSV) comfort (TCV) positively correlated spatial characteristics metabolic levels outdoor summer; (2) indices almost constant low-intensity significantly different moderate-intensity vigorous-intensity activities; (3) when intensity changed from low to neutral PET (NPET) decreased 25.29 26.82 °C, respectively, whereas NPET increased 23.97 °C vigorous intensity; (4) rate (HR) diastolic pressure (SBP) for elderly; (5) a moderate sky view factor space was more suitable participate summer.