Infrared thermography of the spine of a healthy young man / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To provide an observational baseline by studying the nature and characteristics of in- frared thermograms of the spine area of the healthy young men.Methods Infrared thermograms of the spine area were collected using a TIP medical infrared thermograph.The average temperature of each unit area in the middle and on the two sides of the spine was measured.Results (1)Except certain unit areas in the cervical thorax and lum- bar sacral segments,the average temperature of each unit area in the middle of the spine was significantly higher than on the two sides.In the middle of the spine,the average temperature of the cervical thorax and lumbar sacral seg- ments was insignificantly higher than adjacent areas.The shape of the infrared thermograms of the cervical thorax and lumbar sacral segments resembled a triangle and a rhomboid,respectively.Conclusion The study provided para- meters and characteristics of infrared thermograms for clinical diagnosis and guidelines for rehabilitation therapy using an infrared thermograph.