Infrared thermography (IRT) has been recognized as an effective tool for monitoring skin temperature, providing key insights into human body physiology. In this context, we present this study by Mara de Rezende et al. (2024), which analyzes thermal normality patterns of the knee joint in professional athletes from various sports disciplines, examining how different sports and gender may influence skin temperature (Tsk) in this region.The aim of this study was to evaluate the thermal profile of the knee joint in elite athletes from different sports to identify normal patterns and thermal abnormalities.

Methods Used in the Study

The study was conducted with a sample of 89 athletes, including 57 men and 32 women, all with at least five years of experience in their sport and actively competing at national and international levels. High-precision infrared thermal cameras (FLIR T420), with a sensitivity below 0.05°C, were used to capture thermal images of the athletes’ knees in both anterior and posterior views.Data collection was performed under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, following thermography protocol recommendations. The athletes underwent an acclimatization period before the imaging, avoiding any intense physical activity in the 48 hours prior to capture to ensure the thermal profile was unaffected.

Main Findings

• The average thermal difference between the right and left knees was less than 0.3°C in both anterior and posterior views, considered clinically normal for the knee.
• Basketball players showed an anterior view Tsk that was 1.2°C higher than futsal players and 0.8°C higher than judokas.
• In the posterior view, basketball players also presented a Tsk that was 1.1°C higher than judokas and 0.7°C higher than volleyball players.

Skin temperature, particularly at the knee joint, is influenced by biomechanical and metabolic factors related to physical activity. The higher skin temperature observed in sports like basketball may be due to the high biomechanical load experienced by the knees during jumps and quick directional changes. In contrast, sports like judo and futsal place different physical demands on the knees, which is reflected in lower temperatures in these areas.The evaluation of anterior-posterior thermal difference is also crucial. In this study, futsal players had an average anterior-posterior difference of 3.3°C, greater than that of basketball and volleyball players, suggesting a unique thermal distribution pattern that may be related to the specific biomechanics of this sport.

Practical Applications

This study offers a valuable perspective by providing different references for sports medicine professionals, physiotherapists, coaches, and other related professionals, as normal skin temperature data can be used to effectively monitor the health status of athletes, training load, or injury follow-up. Detecting thermal asymmetries greater than 0.3°C may indicate abnormal load on the knee joint, requiring adjustments to training load or the implementation of different interventions (e.g., physiotherapy).

Moreover, the use of thermal charts reflecting skin temperature changes over time can help visualize thermal variations and allow for early intervention in case of thermal anomalies.

Conclusion

• The study shows that high-performance athletes exhibit notable thermal symmetry in their knees, with contralateral differences below 0.3°C, indicative of a normal health status in this joint.
• However, differences between sports disciplines highlight the importance of adapting training and injury prevention strategies to the specific demands of each sport.
• The data provided in this study establish a valuable reference for thermal evaluation in professional athletes and underscore the role of thermography in optimizing performance and preventing injuries.

References:

de Rezende, C. M., da Silva, A. G., Sillero-Quintana, M., & Marins, J. C. B. (2024). Patterns of thermal normality of the knee joint in professional athletes of different sports. Journal of Thermal Biology, 103991.