Analysis of thermal patterns in the knee: Comparative study between athletes and sedentary individuals

Knee Thermal Patterns: Athletes vs. Sedentary Individuals

Resumo

Infrared thermography is a non-invasive technique that detects radiation emitted by the skin, indicating body temperature. In athletes, it enables the creation of a unique thermal profile, recording standard thermal characteristics of specific areas. Thermal changes, such as increases (inflammatory processes) or decreases (degenerative processes) in skin surface temperature, can help diagnose overload and be associated with the onset of asymptomatic injuries. This study aimed to compare the average temperature of the knee region between athletes and sedentary individuals. The sample included 32 men, comprising 16 athletes (1.79±0.06 m; 73.29±11 kg; BMI: 22.84±2.52 kg/m²) and 16 sedentary individuals (1.71±0,05 m; 71.7±11 kg; BMI: 24.5±0.39 kg/m²). Temperature was assessed using infrared thermography. The results showed that the posterior knee region exhibited higher temperatures compared to the anterior region, regardless of the group analyzed. Additionally, trained individuals showed higher average skin temperatures than sedentary individuals. It was concluded that athletes displayed higher average knee temperatures compared to sedentary individuals, with the posterior region exhibiting higher values than the anterior region in both groups