Changes In Skin Surface Temperature Research Articles

The Application of Infrared Thermography in the Assessment of BEMER Physical Vascular Therapy on Body Surface Temperature in Racing Thoroughbreds: A Preliminary Study

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of BEMER (Physical Vascular Therapy) on body surface temperature using infrared thermography (IRT) in the distal parts of the forelimbs in Thoroughbreds. The study tested the hypothesis that BEMER therapy leads to an increase in body surface temperature and blood vessel diameter in the distal parts of the forelimbs. The study involved 16 horses, split into 2 groups: active BEMER (n = 8) and sham (n = 8). The active BEMER group had BEMER boots applied to the distal parts of the forelimbs, whereas the sham group had BEMER boots applied without activation of the device. Both groups underwent IRT examination to detect changes in body surface temperature, followed by ultrasonographic examination to assess changes in vein and artery diameter before (BT) and just after (JAT) therapy. The IRT examination was repeated 15 min after BEMER therapy (15AT). There were no significant body surface temperature differences between BT and JAT in any regions of interest (ROIs) in either group. In the active BEMER group, the ROIs did not change significantly at 15AT, compared to the temperatures measured at BT (except for the hooves). At 15AT the temperature of all the ROIs (except the fetlock bone) dropped significantly in the sham group. In the ultrasonographic examination, there was a significant increase in vein and artery diameter in the study group JAT, whereas the sham group had a significant increase only in artery diameter JAT. These results suggest an effect of BEMER on stimulating blood circulation in the distal parts of the forelimbs in clinically healthy horses. IRT did not identify changes in skin surface temperature after BEMER therapy at the distal parts of the forelimbs.

A Preliminary Study of the Influence of High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Tone Changes in Thoroughbred Racehorses with Back Pain

The reason for undertaking this study was to investigate soft tissue response to high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) by measuring changes in skin surface temperature and longissimus dorsi muscle tone in the thoracolumbar back area in Thoroughbreds with back pain and diagnosed with and without Kissing Spines Syndrome (KSS). Thoroughbreds aged 3-4 years with clinically presented back pain underwent a radiological examination (to assess a lack or presence of KSS) and longissimus dorsi muscle palpation (to assess muscle tone and pain degree). The subjects were divided into two groups, those with KSS (n = 10) and those without KSS (n = 10). A single HILT treatment on the longissimus dorsi muscle, on the left side, was performed. Thermographic examination and palpation were repeated before and after HILT to assess changes in skin surface temperature and muscle pain response. In both groups, HILT caused a significant increase in skin surface temperature of 2.5 °C on average and a palpation score reduction of 1.5 degrees on average (p = 0.005 for both measurements), without differences in any outcome measures between the groups. Furthermore, the correlation between changes in the average skin surface temperature and the average palpation scores in horses with and without KSS were negative (rho = 0.071 and r = -0.180, respectively; p > 0.05). The results of the present study are encouraging, but further studies with larger samples, a longer follow-up period and comparisons with placebo control groups are needed to draw a more valid conclusion.

Effects of High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) on Skin Surface Temperature and Vein Diameter in Healthy Racehorses with Clipped and Non-Clipped Coat.

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in the effects of high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) on skin surface temperature and vein diameter in the carpal joint region in racehorses with clipped and non-clipped treatment areas. The study included 20 Thoroughbreds split into two equal groups: clipped coat and non-clipped coat. Horses underwent thermographic examination to detect changes in skin surface temperature at the medial surface of the carpal joint, followed by ultrasonographic examination to assess changes in the diameter of the medial palmar vein before and after HILT. The increase in skin surface temperature after HILT was significantly lower in the group with clipped coat than in the non-clipped group. The group with clipped coat showed a greater increase in vessel diameter. There was a significantly weak negative correlation between the changes in average skin surface temperature and vein diameter in both groups. In conclusion, an efficient photothermal effect can be achieved in skin with a non-clipped coat and clipping the treatment area increases photobiostimulation of the tissue, while reducing the photothermal effect. Further research is needed to specify the parameters for the treatment of skin with clipped and non-clipped coat in order to perform effective laser therapy.

Assessment of udder skin surface temperature changes in relation to mastitis in crossbred dairy cows in different farms in Kerala

The aim of the present study was to assess the infrared thermographic profile in relation to mastitis in lactating dairy cows. In this study, 20 lactating crossbred dairy cows each were monitored for a period of 21 days in four dairy farms. The udder skin surface temperature (USST) was recorded using infrared thermography (IRT) during the study period at diurnal time intervals. Milk samples were collected at the time of afternoon milking from each quarter and tested for California Mastitis Test (CMT). It was observed that higher USST was noticed in udders with clinical mastitis followed by non-mastitis and subclinical mastitis, and the skin surface temperature of non-mastitis and clinical mastitis udders were significantly higher than subclinical mastitis affected udders. The results of this study indicate the limitations in the use of IRT of udders for early detection of mastitis across all regions.

Infrared Thermographic Imaging of Chest Wall Perfusion in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Coronary artery disease represents a leading cause of death worldwide, to which the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the main method of treatment in advanced multiple vessel disease. The use of the internal mammary artery (IMA) as a graft insures an improved long-term survival, but impairment of chest wall perfusion often leads to surgical site infection and increased morbidity and mortality. Infrared thermography (IRT) has established itself in the past decades as a non-invasive diagnostic technique. The applications vary from veterinary to human medicine and from head to toe. In this study we used IRT in 42 patients receiving CABG to determine the changes in skin surface temperature preoperatively, two hours, 24 h and 6 days after surgery. The results showed a significant and independent drop of surface temperature 2 h after surgery on the whole surface of the chest wall, as well as a further reduction on the left side after harvesting the IMA. The temperature returned to normal after 24 h and remained so after 6 days. The study has shown that IRT is sufficiently sensitive to demonstrate the known, subtle reduction in chest wall perfusion associated with IMA harvesting.

Infrared Thermography as an Early Predictor of Mortality in a Rodent Model of Neonatal Endotoxic Sepsis

Background Sepsis in the first four weeks of life kills over 1 million newborns annually. Early identification of neonatal sepsis has been shown to improve outcomes yet remains a major challenge in this population. Infrared thermography has been used in mass fever screening, tumor detection, anaphylaxis and in the evaluation of skin diseases but has not been studied extensively as a method for detecting the early thermoregulatory changes associated with sepsis. In this study, we utilize a neonatal rodent model of sepsis to evaluate the potential of infrared thermography to predict later mortality. Objective To use infrared thermography to determine whether early changes in skin surface temperature are associated with later mortality in a rodent model of neonatal sepsis. Design/Methods 10-day old rat pups (n=25) were isolated from their mothers and received an intraperitoneal injection of 0.1ug/kg of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Previous studies from our lab have shown that this dose of LPS results in ~50% mortality 5-7 hours post-injection. Rats were placed on a heating pad (33.0°C) and in a thermoneutral neonatal isolette to maintain stable ambient air temperature (27.5°C). Thermal images were obtained using a hand-held thermal (FLIR) camera and temperatures of cranial (Tcr), scapula (Tsc), and rump (Tr) were evaluated using FLIR proprietary software. Images were taken at baseline (pre-injection) and at 10 to 30-minute intervals post-injection for 8 hours. Results LPS exposure resulted in 68% mortality and, therefore, rats were identified as survivors or non-survivors. Tcr pre-LPS injection was similar between groups. Tcr of surviving and non-surviving rats began to decrease at 60-70 minutes post-injection and reached a nadir at 150 minutes in both groups. In contrast to non-surviving rats, surviving animals had a subsequent recovery in Tcr (fig. 1a). Similar temperature profiles were observed in Tsc and Tr in respective surviving and non-surviving rats. Non-surviving rats began to expire at 5 hours and all had expired by 8 hours (fig. 1b). Conclusion(s) In this model of neonatal rodent endotoxic sepsis, survivors and non-survivors demonstrate different skin-surface temperature profiles over time. The rebound in Tcr post-LPS injection distinguishes survivors and non-survivors and may be a useful early identifier of lethal vulnerability to endotoxin.

Infrared Thermography in Equine Practice

Thermography is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging method for the detection of mid to long-wave infrared radiation emitted from the body surface that allows visualization and quantification of changes in skin surface temperature. Within the electromagnetic spectrum, the wavelength of infrared radiation is too large to be detected by the human eye, although it is normally perceived as heat. Electromagnetic heat radiation can be registered with a thermal camera and visualized in the form of a temperature distribution map - a thermogram. The procedure is performed without physical contact with the examined object, including animals. Thermography can be used to determine physiological and pathological changes that induce variations of superficial temperature in a horse. These changes reflect blood flow patterns and the metabolic rate in the horse due to variations in heat production, such as exercise, injury, illness and environmental influence. Thermography has been used to evaluate several different clinical syndromes not only in the diagnosis of inflammation, but also to monitor the progression of healing. Thermography has important applications in research for the detection of illegal performance-enhancing procedures at athletic events and to determine the welfare of horses. Despite several advantages, it is also important to be aware of certain limitations surrounding the practical application of thermography. Therefore, the method should be used in combination with other diagnostic procedures rather than as a replacement.

Relationship Between the Skin Surface Temperature Changes During Sprint Interval Testing Protocol and the Aerobic Capacity in Well-Trained Cyclists.

The study investigated whether changes in body surface temperature in a sprint interval testing protocol (SITP) correlated with aerobic capacity in cyclists. The study involved 21 well-trained cyclists. Maximal aerobic power and maximal oxygen uptake relative to lean body mass (LBM-P(max) and LBM-VO(2max), respectively) were determined by incremental exercise testing on a cycle ergometer. SITP was administered 48 hours later and involved four 30-s maximal sprints interspersed with 90-s active recovery. Body surface temperature was recorded at the temple and arm and the delta difference between baseline temperature and temperature measured immediately after the first sprint (DeltaTt(1) and DeltaTa(1), respectively) and 80 seconds after the fourth sprint (DeltaTt(4) and DeltaTa(4)), respectively) was calculated. Significant correlations were found between DeltaTt4 and LBM-Pmax and LBM-VO(2max) (r=0.63 and r=0.75, respectively) with no significant change in DeltaTa(1) or DeltaTa(4). Body surface temperature, measured at the temple region, can be used to indirectly assess aerobic capacity during maximal sprint exercise.

Could infrared thermal imaging be a new diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis?

Appendicitis is the most frequent acute abdominal disease and there are actual effective diagnostic tools for its detection. The objective of this study was to determine whether a thermal imaging camera is a useful tool for diagnosing acute appendicitis on the basis of abdominal skin surface temperature changes which reflect intra-abdominal inflammation. The prospective data consisting of surgical and pathological findings of 51 patients who had undergone appendectomy between January 2013 and December 2014 with the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was collected, as well as thermal imaging camera recordings. A handheld infrared (IR) thermal imaging camera (ITIC) was used to take measurements. Of the 51 patients studied, 30 were male and 21 were female. Of these, 12 had their highest temperature measurement in the epigastric and 17 in the umbilical areas. These 2 groups constituted 56.9% of the patients. Regarding the lowest temperature measurement, 10 patients had the lowest temperature in the right inguinal and 15 in the hypogastric area. These 2 numbers constituted 49% of the patients. This is the first report concerning the use of a thermal camera as a diagnostic tool for the evaluation of acute abdominal illness. Considering the results of our study, ITIC is not feasible as a new diagnostic tool for acute appendicitis. It may be suitable for determining superficial inflammation; however, it is not suitable for determining deep inflammation.

The use of thermal imaging in evaluating musculoskeletal disorders in dentists.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) caused by incorrect working positions among dentists is a serious health issue and one that leads to decreased productivity and quality of life. Muscle activity and strain is correlated with higher surface temperatures due to increased metabolic activity [2]. The main objective of this study is to evaluate, using thermal imaging, the muscular strain experienced by oral healthcare professionals during work depending on their position, and to assess whether periodic stretching exercises have an impact on preventing MSDs. The study included four subjects and used thermal imaging to evaluate the heat pattern produced by muscle strain in two different states, one while working in incorrect postures and the other after performing stretching exercises. We used a FLIRB200 thermal imaging camera to measure skin surface temperature changes of the underlining muscles in the cervical, right arm triceps, and lumbar areas. According to the imaging, all four subjects recorded a drop in temperature in evaluated muscle regions after performing stretching exercises, corresponding to a decrease in muscle strain. Thermal imaging can be effectively used to evaluate muscle strain and MSDs. Stretching exercises could be viewed as effective preventive measures to avoid MSDs caused by erroneous work postures, however, more subjects are required to draw a definite conclusion.

Acute Exercise-Associated Skin Surface Temperature Changes after Resistance Training with Different Exercise Intensities

Background: Studies showed, that changes in muscular metabolic-associated heat production and blood circulation during and after muscular work affect skin temperature (T) but the results are inconsistent and the effect of exercise intensity is unclear. Objective: This study investigated the intensity-dependent reaction of T on resistance training. Methods: Ten male students participated. After acclimatization (15 min), the participants completed 3x10 repetitions of unilateral biceps curl with 30, 50 or 70% of their one-repetition-maximum (1RM) in a randomized order. Skin temperature of the loaded and unloaded biceps was measured at rest (Trest), immediately following set 1, 2 and 3 (TS1,TS2,TS3) and 30 minutes post exercise (T1 - T30) with an infrared camera. Results: Two-way ANOVA detected a significant effect of the measuring time point on T (Trest to T30) of the loaded arm for 30% (Eta²=0.85), 50% (Eta²=0.88) and 70% 1RM (Eta²=0.85) and of the unloaded arm only for 30% 1RM (Eta²=0.41) (p<0.05) but time effects were independent of the exercise intensity (p>0.05). The T values at the different measuring time points (Trest - T30) did not differ between the intensities at any time point. The loaded arm showed a mean maximum T rise to Trest of 1.8°C and on average, maximum T was reached approximately 5 minutes after the third set. Conclusion: This study indicate a rise of T, which could be independent of the exercise intensity. Infrared thermography seems to be applicable to identify the primary used functional muscles in resistance training but this method seems not suitable to differentiate between exercise intensity from 30 to 70% 1RM.

Thermal image processing for real‐time non‐contact respiration rate monitoring

A real-time thermal imaging based, non-contact respiration rate monitoring method was developed. It measured the respiration related skin surface temperature changes under the tip of the nose. Facial tracking was required as head movements caused the face to appear in different locations in the recorded images over time. The algorithm detected the tip of the nose and then, a region just under it was selected. The pixel values in this region in successive images were processed to determine respiration rate. The segmentation method, used as part of the facial tracking, was evaluated on 55,000 thermal images recorded from 14 subjects with different extent of head movements. It separated the face from image background in all images. However, in 11.7% of the images, a section of the neck was also included, but this did not cause an error in determining respiration rate. The method was further evaluated on 15 adults, against two contact respiration rate monitoring methods that tracked thoracic and abdominal movements. The three methods gave close respiration rates in 12 subjects but in 3 subjects, where there were very large head movements, the respiration rates did not match.

Preliminary Study on the Effectiveness of Different Durations of Hot Towel Application to the Back during Bed Bathing

The purpose of this study was to determine the most effective duration of hot towel application during bed bathing, based on temporal changes in skin surface temperature, towel temperature, and subjective comfort. As a secondary objective, differences in skin surface temperature and subjective comfort for hot towel application on the back and dry towel wiping alone were evaluated. For the first objective, hot towels were applied on the lower back of 20 healthy adults, for different duration (10, 15, and 20 s), with a 10-s duration found to be the most effective. For the second objective, we compared bed bathing with hot towel application to dry wiping alone, n 21 healthy adult participants. A 10-s hot towel application increased the surface temperature of the skin (+0.5℃) and provided a perceived sensation of warmth and comfort. In contrast, dry wiping significantly decreased the surface skin temperature (-0.8℃). In conclusion, hot towel application increased skin surface temperature and improved subjective warmth and comfort during bed bathing.

Core body temperature does not cool down with skin surface temperature during recovery at room temperature after acute heat stress exposure

Identifying new methods of assessing livestock welfare is a growing area of research. Non-invasive methods such as infrared thermography are valuable for quick and accurate observations and could be utilized to monitor the thermal status of swine without direct contact. The study objective was to determine if infrared thermography could be used as a non-invasive, hands-off approach to accurately monitor the welfare of swine by comparing changes in skin surface temperature (SST), core body temperature (CBT), behavior, and heart rate during acute heat stress (AHS) and subsequent recovery in thermoneutral (TN) conditions. In eight replications, 16 pigs (n=8 barrows and 8 gilts) were subjected to AHS (39.3±0.1°C) for 30min followed by TN (20.6±0.1°C) for 30min. The SST, CBT, heart rate, and behavioral data were recorded throughout the entire experiment. During pre-treatment, ear base SST was greater (P<0.01; 35.6±0.3°C) than all other locations. The SST at all locations increased (P<0.01) linearly with duration of AHS exposure. During TN, maximum CBT was greater (P<0.01; 40.6±0.1°C) compared to during AHS (40.3±0.1°C). Pigs spent more time standing during AHS (P<0.01) and tended (P=0.10) to lie more during TN; however, heart rate (141±2.3 beats per minute) was not affected by treatment or duration. In summary, rapid TN exposure after an AHS challenge reduces SST; however, CBT was actually increased and this may have implications towards reduced activity and increased organ damage.

Automatic Intelligent Asymmetry Detection Using Digital Infrared Imaging with K-Means Clustering

Digital infrared thermal imaging is a non-invasive adjunctive diagnostic technique that allows an examiner to visualize and quantify changes in skin surface temperature. The asymmetry of temperature differences between the diseased and the contralateral healthy body parts can be automatically analyzed and has been studied in many areas of medical science. In this paper, we propose a method for intelligent automatic asymmetry detection based on a K-means analysis and a YCbCr color model. The implemented software successfully visualizes an asymmetric distribution of colors with respect to the patients’ health status.

Changes in Skin Surface Temperature after a 10-minute Warm-up on a Bike Ergometer

Introduction: Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive, non-contact procedure for skin surface temperature (SST) diagnostics and represents an effective, safe, and relatively cost-effective diagnosis tool for estimating the SST. While IRT has been established as a diagnosis tool in numerous medical areas of application, it is still in its initial stages as regards to sports science. We will therefore examine the extent to which IRT can be used for diagnosing the SST after a 10-minute warm-up phase . Method: 20 male sports students (23.0 ± 1.6 years; 75.8 ± 9.0 kg; 181.0 ± 6.8 cm) participated in this study. After a standardized preparation phase, the SST of the lower and upper extremities as well as the trunk was determined in a resting state. This was followed by a 10-minute warm-up phase on a bike ergometer set to 1.5 W/kg body weight and a cadence of 60-80 rpm. After the warm-up, the SST was determined again for the 1st to 10th minute of the post-strain phase. Results: The 10-minute warm-up resulted in a significant change in the SST over the time of measurement ( P < 0.05; η 2 p = 0.16). Furthermore, a significant difference of the SST among the different areas of the body was identified ( P < 0.05; η 2 p = 0.15). The interaction between the time and the area of measurement was also significant ( P < 0.05; η 2 p = 0.16). The drop in SST from resting state to the first measurement after the 10-minute warm-up phase was 1.16°C and 3.7% in the trunk musculature. The temperature of the arm musculature dropped by 0.59°C (1.9%), while the temperature of the leg musculature decreased by 1.12°C (3.6%). Ten minutes after the warm-up, the SST of legs and arms was back at the initial state before the strain, but the trunk SST was still 0.74°C (2.3%) lower. Discussion: IRT shows a characteristic SST progression after muscular warm-up. Different SSTs occur depending on the body area, which needs to be considered for standardized warm-ups on the bike ergometer. Keywords: Thermography, warming-up, skin surface temperature, visual imaging, ergometer exercise

Immediate effects of upper thoracic manipulation on the skin surface temperature of the vertebral region in healthy women

Manipulation of the spinal column is a manual therapeutic resource characterized by passive thrust of a given joint at a high velocity and low amplitude within the limits of anatomic integrity. The objective of the present study was to assess the immediate effects of upper thoracic manipulation on skin temperature in the vertebral region in healthy women. Thus, a randomized controlled blind trial was realized in the university community. Twenty-six healthy women were randomly allocated into an experimental group (n=13) and a placebo group (n=13). A single session of upper thoracic spine manipulation (segment T3) was performed. Infrared thermography was used to determine changes in skin temperature in the vertebral region. Images were taken prior to, immediately after and both five and 10 minutes after manipulation. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance with post hoc Bonferroni test was used for inter and intragroup comparisons. The level of significance was set to 5%. No significant differences were found between the different evaluation times in either group (p>0.05). In the intergroup analysis, no statistically significant differences were found in any of the comparisons (p>0.05). Based on the method employed, thoracic spine manipulation of the T3 vertebral segment does not promote changes in skin surface temperature in the region manipulated in asymptomatic individuals.

Effects of skin surface temperature on photoplethysmograph.

Photoplethysmograph (PPG) has been widely used to investigate various cardiovascular conditions. Previous studies demonstrated effects of temperature of the measurement environment; however, an integrated evaluation has not been established in environments with gradual air temperature variation. The purpose of this study is to investigate variations and relationships of blood pressure (BP), PPG and cardiovascular parameters such as heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral resistance (TPR), by changing skin surface temperature (SST). Local mild cooling and heating was conducted on 16 healthy subjects. The results showed that local SST changes affected Finometer blood pressures (Finger BP), PPG components and TPR, but not the oscillometric blood pressure (Central BP), HR, SV and CO, and indicated that temperature must be maintained and monitored to reliably evaluate cardiovascular conditions in temperature-varying environments.

Study of functional infrared imaging for early detection of mucositis in locally advanced head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy

Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has led to improved efficacy in treating locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN) but has led to almost universal in-field mucositis. Patients treated with the same regimen often have differences in mucositis occurrence and severity. Mucositis induced via radiation is known to represent an intense inflammatory response histologically. We hypothesized that patients destined to display severe mucocutaneous toxicity would demonstrate greater alterations in thermal intensity early in therapy than identically treated counterparts. This will allow identification of patients that will require more intensive supportive care using thermal imaging technology. Subjects with LA-SCCHN (oral cavity or oropharynx) being treated with the identical chemoradiotherapy regimen underwent baseline and weekly thermal imaging. Changes in skin temperature caused by mucositis and dermatitis compared with a reference area (ΔT were calculated and correlated to grade of mucositis based on NCI-CTCAE 3.0. Thirty-four subjects were enrolled. Grade 3 mucositis and dermatitis was observed in 53% and 21%, respectively. We observed a statistically significant positive association between an early rise in ΔT and mucositis grade (p value=0.03). Thermal imaging is able to detect small and early changes in skin surface temperature that may be associated with development of mucositis in patients being treated with chemoradiotherapy.

Changes in skin surface temperature at an acupuncture point with moxibustion.

ObjectiveThis study evaluates the thermographic changes associated with moxa burner moxibustion at the SP6 acupuncture point to establish an appropriate, safe distance of efficacy for moxibustion.MethodsBaseline temperature changes using a moxa burner were obtained for a paper substrate at various distances and times, and the tested with volunteers in a pilot study. A single-group trial was then conducted with 36 healthy women to monitor temperature changes on the body surface at the acupuncture point (SP6).ResultsBased on the temperature changes seen for the paper substrate and in the pilot study, a distance of 3 cm was chosen as the intervention distance. Moxibustion significantly increased the SP6 point skin surface temperature, with a peak increase of 11°C at 4 min (p <0.001). This study also found that during moxibustion the temperature of the moxa burner's rubber layer and moxa cautery were 56.9±0.9°C and 65.8±1.2°C, as compared to baseline values of 35.1°C and 43.8°C (p<0.001).ConclusionsWe determined 3 cm was a safe distance between the moxa burner and acupuncture point. Moxibustion can increase the skin surface temperature at the SP6 point. This data will aid traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners in gauging safer treatment distances when using moxibustion treatments.