Thermovision as a Tool for Athletes to Verify the Symmetry of Work of Individual Muscle Segments

Abstract

In the presented research, we characterised the temperature profiles and the degree of preparation for exercise of individual muscle groups of athletes We hypothesise that by means of thermal imaging studies, the effectiveness of the warm-up can be monitored to determine whether the effort of individual muscles is equal and symmetrical, which can help to avoid a potential injury. In the study, thermographic imaging was performed on a group of athletes exercising on a rowing ergometer involving almost 80% of the muscle parts of the human body for intense and symmetrical exercise. Thermovision studies have confirmed, based on the increased temperature of the muscle areas, that the rowing ergometer involves many muscle groups in training. Moreover, based on the shape of the temperature function obtained from individual body regions of interest, it was shown that conventional exercise on a rowing ergometer causes almost symmetrical work of the right and left sides of the body. Obtained temperature changes in most of the studied muscle areas showed minimum temperature reached the beginning of training-mostly phases 1 and 2. During the subsequent phases, the temperature increase was monitored, stopping at resting temperature. Significantly, temperature variations did not exceed 0.5 °C in all post-training phases. Statistical analyses did not show any significant differences in the symmetry of right and left muscle areas corresponding to the muscle location temperature. Thermal imaging may be an innovative wholly non-invasive and safe method, because checking induces adaptation processes, which may become indicators of an athlete's efficiency. The imaging can be continuously repeated, and automatic comparison of average temperature or temperature difference may provide some clues that protect athletes from overtraining or serious injuries.

Keywords: body efficiency; exercises on a rowing ergometer; symmetry of muscle work; thermal characteristics of muscles; thermovision in sport.

Figure 1

Regions of Interest (ROI) on the surface of the human body used in the research: (a) anterior surface of the chest and upper limbs, (b) anterior surface of the lower limbs, (c) posterior surface of the chest (back) and upper limbs, (d) posterior surface of the lower limbs.

Figure 2

Thermograms representing the temperature maps of the front (A) and rear (B) body surfaces of a professional group representative, recorded in each measurement phase. Source: own research carried out following the methodology described.

Figure 3

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the wrist elbow flexor muscles obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes. The largest but not statistically significant differences were marked with *, p = 0.08.

Figure 4

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the biceps brachial muscle obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes. The statistically significant differences were marked with **, p = 0.04.

Figure 5

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the triceps muscle of the arm obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.

Figure 6

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the greater pectoral muscles obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.

Figure 7

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the anterior dentate muscle obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.

Figure 8

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the trapezius muscle obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.

Figure 9

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the gastrocnemius muscle obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.

Figure 10

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the quadriceps muscle obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.

Figure 11

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the deltoid muscle obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.

Figure 12

Temperature time (0 to 6 phase of training according to methods) changes of the latissimus dorsi muscle of the thigh obtained before and after training using a rowing ergometer for the studied group of athletes.