Thermography to Monitoring of Sports Training: An Overview

Abstract

Thermography measures have been increasingly used as a preventive resource and control method in the sports training monitoring. The purpose of this study was to present an overview of applications and analysis of thermal images in sports training, as well as presenting the parameters and standards for its use in the sports training monitoring. This is a narrative review of the literature. The results of studies with thermography have shown different responses in body temperature regulation with the exercise practice, which in turn has been linked to the exercise prescription characteristics, such as type of exercise, intensity, among others. The application of thermography has been used also as a strategic resource in the monitoring of high-level athletes, which has been reduced, significantly, the number of sports injuries, by the use of the tomographic image analysis. For this purpose, technical parameters and standards for carrying out the thermographic images must be carefully observed in order to maintain the reliability of the data. Thus, through a suitable design methodology, it is possible to perform a physiological monitoring to sports training with the use of thermography, maximizing strategies to prevent possible injury.