APPLICATION OF MEDICAL INFRARED THERMOGRAPHY TO SPORTS MEDICINE

ABSTRACT

Medical infrared thermography is a non-invasive, non-radioactive detection tool that is capable of analyzing physiological functions related to skin temperature control. Thermography detects infrared light emitted by the body and visualizes changes in body temperature related to changes in blood flow. It is not a method that shows anatomical abnormalities, but it is capable of showing physiological changes. There are various applications of thermography in the field of medicine: neurological, rheumatological and muscular disorders, vascular diseases, urological, gynecological and orthopedic disorders, and sports medicine. For all medical fields, thermography is established as a measure that provides a visual map of skin temperature distribution. Termography should not be used as the sole diagnostic tool. Clinical examinations should be performed to interpret the thermograms. In medical applications, this technique only provides an image of the distribution of skin temperature; it is not capable of showing data for a deep surface layers of the body, as is possible with other imaging exams. However it is a non-invasive, objective method, as well as being safe and harmless. In sports medicine, the use of thermography can provide better results for athletes, as it is an instrument for identifying risks and preventing injuries, as well as an important tool for monitoring sports training, based on the evaluation of training load.

Keywords:
infrared rays; reproducibility of results; sports medicine/methods; thermography/methods