Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze skin temperature (Tsk) responses after a short-term maximum effort test in middle-distance runners. A quasi-experimental study was conducted with ten men (age 23.5±5.10 years) who trained 5 days per week, 2 to 3 hours per day, and were submitted to thermographic evaluation before and after Cooper's 12-minute run test (CRT). The mean temperature of the anterior-superior, posterior-superior, anterior-inferior, and posterior-inferior regions was compared between the sides (i.e., left and right) before and after CRT. The paired t-test showed a significant decrease in Tsk after CRT in the following regions: right pectoralis major (-3.4%), left pectoralis major (-3.4%), and abdomen (-5%) in the anterior-superior view (p<0.01); and in the upper right trunk (-1.9%), upper left trunk (-1.9%) and lower back (-2.9%) in the posterior-superior view (p<0.05). In the lower limbs, a significant increase in temperature of the left knee (1.6%), and right (3.6%) and left ankles (2.9%) in the anterior view (p<0.05), as well as in the right (4.3%) and left ankles (3.7%) in the posterior view (p<0.05) were observed. There was no difference in temperature between the right and left sides. In conclusion, the Tsk change of middle-distance runners was symmetrical between sides, decreasing in upper limbs and trunk and increasing in lower limbs after a short-term maximum effort test.
Highlights
The skin temperature (Tsk) in athletes submitted to competition and training activities may be increased more than tenfold and remain elevated for several hours due to the rate of heat production (Lim, Byrne & Lee, 2008; Tanda, 2018)
Parameter Age Weight Height (m) BMI Distance covered in the Cooper's 12-minute run test (m)
When comparing pre- and post-test values for each regions of interest (ROI) in the anterior-superior view, a decrease in Tsk was observed for the trunk and upper limbs areas (Figure 2) in the right pectoral (-3.4%; p
Summary
The skin temperature (Tsk) in athletes submitted to competition and training activities may be increased more than tenfold and remain elevated for several hours due to the rate of heat production (Lim, Byrne & Lee, 2008; Tanda, 2018). This increased heat production is associated with muscular work and shifts of blood flow (Hildebrandt, Raschner, & Ammer, 2010; Hildebrandt, Zeilberger, Ring, & Raschner, 2012; Lahiri, Bagavathiappan, Jayakumar, & Philip, 2012). Infrared thermography is a non-invasive and non-radioactive evaluation capable of detecting changes in Tsk (Merla et al, 2009; Fournet, Redortier, & Hevenith, 2015; Salvalaio, Silva, Pinho, & Pohlmann, 2011), which can assist in therapeutic decisions regarding the physical condition of athletes (Sillero-Quintana, Gomez-Carmona, & Fernandez-Cuevas, 2017; Ferreira et al, 2008; Côrte & Hernandez, 2016)
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