Resumo

BOUZAS MARINS, J. C. et al. Thermographic profile of soccer players' lower limbs. Rev Andal Med Deporte [online]. 2014, vol.7, n.1, pp.1-6. ISSN 2172-5063.

Objective. The objective of this study was to establish the thermographic profile of the lower limbs in elite young soccer players. Method. One hundred soccer players from the U-19 categories of a first division Brazilian football club (15.5 ± 1.37 years; 67.93 ± 9.62 kg; 177.49 ± 8.67 cm) participated in the study. Two thermograms allowed us to record maximum and average skin temperatures (T_SK) in four body regions of interest (ROIs) of the lower limbs corresponding to the anterior and posterior view of the leg and thigh. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare bilateral T_SK differences with a significance level of α < 0.05. Results. Average values of T_SK in the anterior view were as follows: right thigh 30.2 ± 1.9°C, left thigh 30.2 ± 1.9°C, right leg 29.8 ± 1.8°C, and left leg 29.9 ± 1.8°C. In the posterior view, the values were as follows: right thigh 30.3 ± 1.8°C, left thigh 30.2 ± 1.8°C, right leg 29.6 ± 1.9°C, and left leg 29.4 ± 1.9°C. The statistical analysis did not show significant differences between sides in the selected ROIs for average or maximum temperatures. A histogram of T_SK frequencies for each ROI allowed establishment of values for hyper-and hypothermia. Conclusion. The elite young soccer players analyzed showed contralateral thermal symmetry. The average T_SK differences for paired ROIs were each < 0.2°C. Each ROI exhibited a specific thermal profile. The registered T_SK indicated a normal thermal profile of the athletes.

Palavras-chave : Soccer; Thermography; Skin temperature; Thermoregulation.

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