Immersion of lower legs into cold water (14 °C) induces a small, but sustained activation of the sympathetic nervous systém, which manifests as tachycardia and peripheral vasoconstriction. Blood is shiftedd from the body periphery to the centrál areas of the body. Cold adaptation, induced by repeated local cold water immersions, lower heart rtate, which indicates lowering of the sympatheric tone, but increases vacoconstriction, which indicates activation of the sympathetic tone. Local cold adaptation induces different physiological resposes that the whole body cold adaptation.

        Key words: cold adaptation, casdiovascular systém, lower legs, Priessnitz procedures