Acute physiological responses to a pyramidal exercise protocol and the associations with skin temperature variation in different body areas.

This study aimed to examine the skin temperature (Tsk) variations in five regions of interest (ROI) to assess whether possible disparities between the ROI's Tsk could be associated with specific acute physiological responses during cycling. Seventeen participants performed a pyramidal load protocol on a cycling ergometer. We synchronously measured Tsk in five ROI with three infrared cameras. We assessed internal load, sweat rate, and core temperature. Reported perceived exertion and calves' Tsk showed the highest correlation (r = -0.588; p < 0.01). Mixed regression models revealed that the heart rate and reported perceived exertion were inversely related to calves' Tsk. The exercise duration was directly associated with the nose tip and calf Tsk but inversely related to the forehead and forearm Tsk. The sweat rate was directly related to forehead and forearm Tsk. The association of Tsk with thermoregulatory or exercise load parameters depends on the ROI. The parallel observation of the face and calf Tsk could indicate simultaneously the observation of acute thermoregulatory needs and individual internal load. The separate Tsk analyses of individual ROI appear more suitable to examine specific physiological response than a mean Tsk of several ROI during cycling.

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

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.

Association between physiological stress and skin temperature response after a half marathon.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the association between skin temperature response and the physiological stress after a half marathon. APPROACH: Seventeen runners were measured 48 h before, 24 h before, 24 h after and 48 h after completing a half marathon. The measurements on each day of testing included blood markers (creatine kinase [CK] and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase [GOT]), perception of pain and fatigue (using a visual analogue scale), skin temperature (using infrared thermography), and jump performance (using countermovement jump test). MAIN RESULTS: CK (p  < 0.001 and ES = 2.1), GOT (p  = 0.04 and ES = 1.3), and perception of fatigue and pain (p  < 0.001 and ES > 1.0) increased 24 h after the half marathon, whereas jump performance decreased (p  < 0.01 and ES = 0.4). No increase of skin temperature was observed in the tests after the competition and no regression model was able to predict physiological stress using skin temperature. Only a bivariate correlation was observed between the 24 h variation (pre-24 h) of CK and the skin temperature of the posterior upper limb (p  = 0.04 and r = 0.5), and between the 48 h variation (pre-48 h) of pain perceived and the skin temperature of the knee (p  < 0.01 and r = 0.6). SIGNIFICANCE: In conclusion, follow-up on basal skin temperatures does not seem to be an adequate method to detect physiological stress after a half marathon. In line with the observed results, we recommend caution when interpreting peaks in basal skin temperature in field sports assessments.

Correlation between Topographic Parameters Obtained by Back Surface Topography Based on Structured Light and Radiographic Variables in the Assessment of Back Morphology in Young Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis.

STUDY DESIGN: Optical cross-sectional study. PURPOSE: To study the correlation between asymmetry of the back (measured by means of surface topography) and deformity of the spine (quantified by the Cobb angle). OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: The Cobb angle is considered the gold standard in diagnosis and follow-up of scoliosis but does not correctly characterize the three-dimensional deformity of scoliosis. Furthermore, the exposure to ionizing radiation may cause harmful effects particularly during the growth stage, including breast cancer and other tumors. METHODS: Patients aged 13.15±1.96 years (range, 7-17 years; n=88) with Cobb angle greater than 10° were evaluated with X-rays and our back surface topography method through three variables: axial plane (DHOPI), coronal plane (POTSI), and profile plane (PC). Pearson's correlation was applied to determine the correlation between topographic and radiographic variables. One-way analysis of variance and Bonferroni correction were used to compare groups with different grades of scoliosis. Significance was set at p<0.01 and, in some cases, at p<0.05. RESULTS: We detected a positive, statistically significant correlation between Cobb angle with DHOPI (r=0.810) and POTSI (r=0.629) and between PC variables with thoracic kyphosis angle (r=0.453) and lordosis lumbar angle (r=0.275). In addition, we found statistically significant differences for DHOPI and POTSI variables according to the grade of scoliosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although the back surface topography method cannot substitute for radiographs in the diagnosis of scoliosis, correlations between radiographic and topographic parameters suggest that it offers additional quantitative data that may complement radiologic study.

Evolución de las características de las arcadas dentarias en dos grupos de edad / Evolution of dental arches characteristics in two age groups

Introducción: Se comparan las características dimensionales de las arcadas dentarias entredos grupos de edades diferentes, adolescentes y adultos jóvenes, para analizar las variaciones asociadasa la edad, sexo y a la influencia del tratamiento ortodóncico. Material y método: Se utilizaron dosmuestras: 88 pares de modelos de escayola de adolescentes (edad media 14,05 años) y 65 de adultos(edad media 22,15 años). Se usó un método digital para la medición de los diámetros mesiodistales delos dientes, distancias intercaninas e intermolares, longitudes de las arcadas y se obtuvo el apiñamientodentario inferior. Para el análisis estadístico se agruparon las muestras de cada grupo de edad porsexos y por tratados/no tratados con ortodoncia. Resultados: Los diámetros mesiodistales de los chicoseran mayores a los de las chicas y los de los adolescentes mayores que los de los adultos, sobretodo en el sexo femenino. La distancia intercanina disminuyó con la edad en las chicas y la intermolarsuperior disminuyó en las chicas no tratadas, mientras que la inferior aumenta en los chicos. Ambaslongitudes de arcada tienden a disminuir en ambos sexos y sobre todo en los grupos de no tratados.Existó un aumento del apiñamiento inferior con la edad en ambos sexos en los individuos tratados.Conclusiones: La pérdida de material dentario con el paso de los años unido a una mayor pérdida delongitud de la arcada podría ser otro factor en el apiñamiento terciario. A su vez, el desplazamientodentario a mesial podría explicar la disminución de los diámetros transversales de caninos y molares,al ocupar una zona más estrecha del arco dentario

Introduction: Dimensional characteristics of dental arches between two groups of age, adolescentsand adults, are compared to analyze the variations associated with age, sex and influence oforthodontic treatment. Material and methods: Two samples of 88 pairs of stone models from adolescents(average age, 14.05 years) and 65 from adults (average age, 22.15 years) were selected. Aftercast scanning, a digital program was used to measure dental mesiodistal diameters, intercanine andintermolar widths, arch lengths and lower dental crowding. For the statistic analysis the samples ofeach age group were divided by sex and by the fact of having been treated or not with orthodontics.Results: The values of the mesiodistal diameters in males were greater than in females, and greater inadolescents than in adults, especially in females. The intercanine distance decreased with age in femalesand the maxillary intermolar distance decreased in untreated females, while the mandibular oneincreased in males. Both arch lengths decreased in both sexes, mainly in the untreated individuals. Thereis an increase of the anteroinferior dental crowding with age in both sexes in the treated group.Conclusions: The loss of dental material with age associated to a greater decrease of arch length couldbe another factor in the later crowding. Also the mesial displacement of the teeth to a narrower partof the arch could explain the decrease in the intercanine and intermolar widths