Chronic and Acute Effects on Skin Temperature from a Sport Consisting of Repetitive Impacts from Hitting a Ball with the Hands

Abstract

Valencian handball consists in hitting the ball with the hands and it may contribute to injury development on the hands. This study aimed to analyze skin temperature asymmetries and recovery after a cold stress test (CST) in professional players of Valencian handball before and after a competition. Thirteen professional athletes and a control group of ten physically active participants were measured. For both groups, infrared images were taken at the baseline condition; later they underwent a thermal stress test (pressing for 2 min with the palm of the hand on a metal plate) and then recovery images were taken. In athletes, the images were also taken after their competition. Athletes at baseline condition presented lower temperatures (p < 0.05) in the dominant hand compared with the non-dominant hand. There were asymmetries in all regions after their match (p < 0.05). After CST, a higher recovery rate was found after the game. The regions with the most significant differences in variation, asymmetries and recovery patterns were the index, middle and ring fingers, and the palm of the dominant hand. Taking into account that lower temperatures and the absence of temperature variation may be the consequence of a vascular adaptation, thermography could be used as a method to prevent injuries in athletes from Valencian handball.

Keywords: cold stress test; hand temperature; pelota valenciana; recovery pattern; sport; thermal image; thermoregulation.

Figure 1

Different positions employed during the study. (A) Position to adapt the hands to environmental conditions. (B) Hand position during infrared imaging. (C) Cold stress test on a metal/aluminum plate.

Figure 2

Regions of interest determined. (1) Thumb; (2) Index finger; (3) Middle finger; (4) Ring finger; (5) Little finger; (6) Thenar eminence; (7) Palm without thenar eminence; (8) Wrist.

Figure 3

Example of the thermal images at baseline condition in a member of the control group (A) and a member of the athlete group (B). D = Dominant Hand; ND = Non-Dominant Hand.

Figure 4

Mean and standard deviation of skin temperature variation in the dominant and non-dominant hand by ROIs in the athletes group. Differences were analyzed between the dominant and non-dominant hand (* p < 0.05). S = Small Effect Size.

Figure 5

Mean and standard deviation of the CST variations of the asymmetries for each minute after CST in all the groups. L = Large Effect Size. Difference between Athletes Group—Post Match and Athletes Group—Pre Match († p < 0.05); Difference between Control Group and Athletes Group—Post Match (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01).

Figure 6

Mean and standard deviation of the CST variation in dominant hand for each minute after CST in all the groups. L = Large Effect Size. Difference between Athletes Group—Post Match and Athletes Group—Pre Match († p < 0.05; †† p < 0.01); Difference between Control Group and Athletes Group—Post Match (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01); Difference between Control Group and Athletes Group—Pre Match (# p < 0.05; ## p < 0.01).

Figure 7

Mean and standard deviation of the CST variation in non-dominant hand for each minute after CST in all the groups. L = Large Effect Size. Difference between Athletes Group—Post Match and Athletes Group—Pre Match († p < 0.05; †† p < 0.01); Difference between Control Group and Athletes Group—Post Match (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001).