Application of thermal imaging to assess the superficial skin temperature distribution after local cryotherapy and ultrasound

Abstract

Thermal imaging is a safe, noninvasive, and quite low-cost technique that allows for the rapid and noninvasive recording of thermal radiation emitted by the human body. In recent years, it is increasingly used for physiotherapy monitoring. The main goal of the study was to compare the influence of two various treatments applied in two various orders, namely local cryotherapy (CRYO) and ultrasound therapy (US). The impact of combined therapies, applied in two various orders, was studied in terms of changes of the superficial temperature distribution on the front right thigh surface. The response to the therapy depending the treated persons' gender, along with a consensual reaction, was examined. The research material consisted of 30 healthy volunteers, 19-23-year old students, aged 19.93 (± 1.42). All treatments were performed at weekly intervals in the following order: in the first week, CRYO immediately followed by US, and in the second week, ultrasound immediately followed by local cryotherapy. All treatments were performed on the right quadriceps. The combined sequence of local cryotherapy and ultrasound therapy caused temperature decrease in the treated area regardless of their performance order. The temperature decrease considerably depends on the sequence of the applied treatments, and it was more significant after the ultrasound-cryotherapy sequence.Moreover, these changes also lasted longer. Statistically significant influence of the subjects' gender was observed in case of consensual reaction.

The applications of infrared thermography in surgical removal of retained teeth effects assessment

“…Thermography has a wide range of applications, and it is used by the industry, the power and construction sectors, as well as medicine. Medical applications are based on the use of thermography in oncology, allergology, dermatology, physiotherapy, sports medicine, or even dentistry [2][3][4][5][6].…”

Assessment of the Dynamics of Temperature Changes in the Knee Joint Area in Response to Selected Cooling Agents in Thermographic Tests

“…Among the available papers, the fewest studies concern refrigerant gases, as evidenced by the review paper by Joseph T. Costello et al from 2012, in which out of 19 analyzed research works on thermal evaluation after LC treatments, only one concerned localized CA (and the rest concerned a cryotherapy cuff, crushed ice, cold water, after gel pack, cooling gel, ice massage, and frozen peas) [ 6 ]. Supplementing the data in the source material is extremely important in view of the increasing use of refrigerant gases (LNV, CA, carbon dioxide microcrystals) in clinical practice in LC treatments [ 16 , 20 , 37 , 51 , 54 ]. For this reason, in the presented study, the thermal response after LNV, CA and IB application was compared to determine their cooling potential based on the thermographic image.…”

Temporal Patterns of Knee-Extensor Isokinetic Torque Strength in Male and Female Athletes Following Comparison of Anterior Thigh and Knee Cooling Over a Rewarming Period

“…Following gold-standard recommendations in current literature 18,19 , Tsk data using an infrared thermal imaging camera (ThermoVision A40M, Flir Systems, Danderyd, Sweden) gathered at baseline, immediately post and at 10-minute intervals up to 30 minutes post of either the anterior thigh or knee, dependent on group allocation was facilitated by determining a region of interest (ROI). To create an anatomical region of interest over the anterior thigh, application of thermally inert skin surface markers formed a framework 12 .…”

“…Although rate of temperature change between modalities presents fluctuations the consensus agrees on a relationship existing 12 ; that being, a highly significant quadratic association between Tsk and intramuscular temperatures (Tim) post local cooling applications 12 . The gold standard protocol to measure Tsk is through infrared thermal imaging 18,19 . Due to the multifactorial considerations that can affect deeper soft tissues, such as duration 20 , gender 21 , adipose tissue levels 22 and location of cryotherapy applications, knowing the optimum protocol for reduction in muscle temperature to induce physiological changes can be challenging.…”