INTRODUCTION:
Rugby is one of the sports that cause more injuries. Muscle injury presents a localized thermal variation, causing an increase in local temperature which supposedly can be assessed by measuring the temperature.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between the changes in skin temperature at various body sites and the variation of CK, at two-cycle activities of professional rugby athletes, to thereby evaluate the use of thermography as a method to support the diagnosis of muscle injuries.
METHODS:
The study included 21 male rugby athletes aged between 19 and 31 years from a professional club nationwide. Blood samples were taken to assess serum CK and the acquisition of infrared image of athletes (48 h post-workout and 48 h post-game) for evaluation of skin temperature over the muscles of interest. Images in anterior and posterior view of the trunk and thighs were performed. The analysis of the thermograms was conducted systematically.
RESULTS:
There was no correlation between the change in CK and the average temperature variation of selected muscles.However, in the group of athletes who experienced an elevation of CK greater than 50% between the first and second assessment, the left pectoralis and the left semitendinosus muscles showed significant differences with p-values of 0.037 and 0.045, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS:
It can be concluded that thermography can be used as a method of support for diagnosis of muscle injury in athletes.
Rugby; Thermography; Creatine kinase; Diagnosis
