Thermographic profile of soccer players’ lower limbs

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to establish the thermographic profile of the lower limbs in elite young soccer players. MethodOne hundred soccer players from the U-19 categories of a first division Brazilian football club (15.5±1.37 years; 67.93±9.62kg; 177.49±8.67cm) participated in the study. Two thermograms allowed us to record maximum and average skin temperatures (TSK) in four body regions of interest (ROIs) of the lower limbs corresponding to the anterior and posterior view of the leg and thigh. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare bilateral TSK differences with a significance level of α < 0.05. ResultsAverage values of TSK in the anterior view were as follows: right thigh 30.2±1.9°C, left thigh 30.2±1.9°C, right leg 29.8±1.8°C, and left leg 29.9±1.8°C. In the posterior view, the values were as follows: right thigh 30.3±1.8°C, left thigh 30.2±1.8°C, right leg 29.6±1.9°C, and left leg 29.4±1.9°C. The statistical analysis did not show significant differences between sides in the selected ROIs for average or maximum temperatures. A histogram of TSK frequencies for each ROI allowed establishment of values for hyper-and hypothermia. ConclusionThe elite young soccer players analyzed showed contralateral thermal symmetry. The average TSK differences for paired ROIs were each ≤ 0.2°C. Each ROI exhibited a specific thermal profile. The registered TSK indicated a normal thermal profile of the athletes.