My office was very cold today and I discovered something about my body. I have a heat-regulation area right in back of my iliac crests on my lower back. They extend from the lumbar vertebrae out to the outside of my hip and I can cover them up with two hands slid off the back of my hips with the fingers almost touching my spine and the thumbs pointing downward. If they are uncovered I get chilled really easily and I get a prickely sensation all over my body. If they are covered up I feel fine even when the temperature in the room is really low.

I don't know if I am sick or have an unusual body structure but if I am not and other people have this same heat regulating area maybe it would make sense to have hip-muffs. These could be elastic bands that stretch around the torso with furry parts right over the iliac crest area of the lower back.

I guess this is why men used to wear thier pants up above their hips -- to keep this area warm. Also the preppy sweater tied around the hips keeps this area warm.
-- gardenoed, Feb 07 2006

Neoprene Lumbar Support http://www.benefits...hop/detail/2582.htm
For cosy kidneys [wagster, Feb 08 2006]

The topless towers of Ilium http://books.google..._w6UbqpwlvoRb_Nb_8Y
[pertinax, Nov 23 2007]

Don't you already got an (inner) hip muff?
-- DrCurry, Feb 07 2006


Mine doesn't seem to work very well.
-- gardenoed, Feb 07 2006


Perhaps you should get it re-sleeved.
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Feb 07 2006


This area of your body is a high-volume heat transfer area, being close to your core.
-- RayfordSteele, Feb 08 2006


Are you talking about your butt cheeks? I agree it is chilly to have them uncovered. But the wonderful feeling of freedom may be worth it.
-- bungston, Feb 08 2006


Sort of baked. I used to have back problems and wore a neoprene lumbar support belt whenever I was doing any lifting. I noticed that it also kept that region nice and cosy, having a huge knock-on effect on my overall warmth. I now wear it when the weather gets really bitter even though my back has pretty much recovered.
-- wagster, Feb 08 2006


WIFRT I thought this was going to be about that notorious nightspot "The Topless Towers of Ilium" (see link).
-- pertinax, Nov 23 2007


Baked - google "Kidney Belt". Bikers wear 'em. There are also ski-jackets available with a fluffy "muff" inside in the kidney region for the same reason.
-- squeak, Nov 23 2007


One assumes that it is not the 'vulgar slang' meaning of muff as indicated by 'The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition'
-- vincevincevince, Nov 24 2007



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