Temperature changes during exercise measured by thermography.

Abstract

The present study explores the dynamic changes of surface temperatures associated with peripheral vascular shifts during and following hand gripping, one-legged ergometric, and running exercise. An AGA 680 thermovision system, incorporating a Bolex 16-mm camera and displaying 10-colored isotherms on a slave monitor, generated synchronous infrared (IR) movies at 16 frame/s. Incremental increases in surface skin temperatures (Ts) were observed while gripping at 20, 50, and 80% of maximum with a peak rise of 1.7 degrees C. Thermographic recorded Ts changes during dynamic one-legged exercise were higher in the exercising leg than the resting leg. Surface temperatures dropped in both limbs following exercise. The advantages of the use of thermography during transient thermal states, as produced by dynamic exercise, is supported by comparative Ts data taken from thermograms and thermistors.