Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2012;18(2):233-43.

The influence of fatigue on muscle temperature.

Bartuzi P, Roman-Liu D, Wiśniewski T.

Source

Central Institute for Labour Protection, National Research Institute, Poland. pabar@ciop.pl

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the possibility of using infrared (IR) thermography for assessing muscle fatigue during low effort. Three tests at constant levels of load 5, 15 and 30% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) lasting 5 min each were performed on a group of 10 men. Temperature and electromyographic (EMG) signal were registered from biceps brachii (BB). Analysis focused on the influence of load on the values and changes in time of muscle temperature. Correlations between temperature and EMG parameters (RMS, MPF and MF) were also analysed. Constant load sustained during the tests resulted in an increase in the temperature of BB. There were statistically significant correlations between temperature and EMG parameters for most subjects. Results of the study suggest that IR thermography can be an alternative or supplementary method for assessing muscle fatigue at low levels of contraction.

PMID:

 

22721541

 

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Application of medical thermography to the diagnosis of Frey's syndrome.

Head Neck. 1997 Mar;19(2):143-7.

Application of medical thermography to the diagnosis of Frey's syndrome.

Isogai N, Kamiishi H.

Source

Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kinki University Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In Frey's syndrome, the secretory parasympathetic fibers of the parotid gland are thought to communicate with the sympathetic nerve fibers of sweat glands and blood vessels of the skin following parotidectomy. Miscommunication results in subjective gustatory sweating and facial flushing, which appear early with postoperative mastication. In this study, we compared the efficacy of medical thermography to the Minor's starch-iodine test to determine the presence of gustatory sweating in Frey's syndrome.

METHODS:

Patients were considered to have Frey's syndrome if signs of gustatory sweating and localized skin flushing of the parotid region were present. In four patients who had undergone unilateral parotidectomy, gustatory sweating and facial flushing were present after gustatory stimulation, and the presence of Frey's syndrome was confirmed with Minor's starch test in all patients. Infrared thermography was then performed, and the same area measured. The contralateral side served as an internal control for each patient.

RESULTS:

Before gustatory stimulation, the isothermal pattern of the diseased side and the nonoperative side was similar. Stress thermographyusing a sialogogue (lemon, 3 mL) showed a cold spot at the operative site in all four patients with Frey's syndrome. The contralateral nonoperative side showed normal skin temperature distribution in all patients. Minor's test was positive in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

Thermography is a noninvasive, facile test that provides a qualitative visual analysis of the cutaneous capillary response in Frey's syndrome following parotid surgery.

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Thermatomal changes in cervical disc herniations. Zhang HY, Kim YS, Cho YE;
Department of Neurosurgery, Yongdong Severance Hospital, Yonsei College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
hyzhang@unitel.co.kr
Subjective symptoms of a cool or warm sensation in the arm could be shown objectively by using of
thermography with the detection of thermal change in the case of radiculopathy, including cervical disc
herniation (CDH). However, the precise location of each thermal change at CDH has not been
established in humans. This study used digital infrared thermographic imaging (DITI) for 50 controls and
115 CDH patients, analyzed the data statistically with t-test, and defined the areas of thermatomal change
in CDH C3/4, C4/5, C5/6, C6/7 and C7/T1. The temperature of the upper trunk and upper extremities of
the control group ranged from 29.8 degrees C to 32.8 degrees C. The minimal abnormal thermal
difference in the right and left upper extremities ranged from 0.1 degree C to 0.3 degree C in 99%
confidence interval. If delta T was more than 0.1 degree C, the anterior middle shoulder sector was
considered abnormal (p < 0.01). If delta T was more than 0.3 degree C, the medial upper aspect of the
forearm and dorsal aspect of the arm, some areas of the palm and anterior part of the fourth finger, and
their opposite side sectors and all dorsal aspects of fingers were considered abnormal (p < 0.01). Other
areas except those mentioned above were considered abnormal if delta T was more than 0.2 degree C (p
< 0.01). In p < 0.05, thermal change in CDH C3/4 included the posterior upper back and shoulder and the
anterior shoulder. Thermal change in CDH C4/5 included the middle and lateral aspect of the triceps
muscle, proximal radial region, the posterior medial aspect of the forearm and distal lateral forearm.
Thermal change in CDH C5/6 included the anterior aspects of the thenar, thumb and second finger and
the anterior aspects of the radial region and posterior aspects of the pararadial region. Thermal change
in CDH C6/7 included the posterior aspect of the ulnar and palmar region and the anterior aspects of the
ulnar region and some fingers. Thermal change in CDH C7/T1 included the scapula and posterior medial
aspect of the arm and the anterior medial aspect of the arm. The areas of thermal change in each CDH
included wider sensory dermatome and sympathetic dermatome There was a statistically significant
change of temperature in the areas of thermal change in all CDH patients. In conclusion, the areas of
thermal change in CDH can be helpful in diagnosing the level of disc protrusion and in detecting the
symptomatic level in multiple CDH patients.

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