Characterization of the thermal profile of sedentary young people and university level sallonists and football players

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the thermographic profile of the lower limbs of sedentary young people, as well as football players and university salon players. Methods: The sample consisted of 30 male university students divided into three groups, namely footballers, salonists and sedentary people. The skin temperature (TP) of 14 body regions of interest (RCI) was analyzed using the ThermoHuman® software, namely: vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, internal and external posterior thigh, femoral, hip adductors in view anterior and posterior, knees in anterior and posterior view, lateral and medial tibialis, internal and external gastrocnemius (GE). The mean TP values ​​of each RCI were used in the statistical analysis. Two-way anova and Bonferroni post-hoc were used to verify the effect of foot dominance and group on TP values ​​for each RCI. To establish a thermal profile reference, a percentile curve was proposed with the 5, 15, 50, 85 and 95 percentiles. Results: There was no significant difference in TP values ​​between the dominant and non-dominant sides in all RCIs analyzed. No significant interaction was observed between dominance and group. An effect of the group factor was observed only for RCI GE; post-hoc analysis showed that the futsal group presented a significantly higher TP value in this RCI compared to the football group. Conclusion: Football players and university salon players, as well as sedentary young people, show similar thermal responses at rest. Contralateral thermal symmetry levels are <0.4°C. The level of physical activity, training specificity and dominance did not influence thermographic responses.

Keywords: skin temperature, sports medicine, university athletes