Thermographic assessment of saddles used in Mangalarga Marchador horses / Avaliação termográfica de selas utilizadas em cavalos da raça Mangalarga Marchador

Poor saddle-fitting is one of the main causes of back pain in horses. Mangalarga Marchador is a popular breed in Brazil, being used mainly for pleasure riding and sports. This study aimed to thermographically assess saddles used in horses of this breed. Thermographic images were obtained from 18 saddles of animals from different categories during a Mangalarga Marchador National Exposition. The evaluation was based on three parameters: contact area symmetry, dorsal midline interaction and total skin contact area (25%, 50%, 75% or 100%). Contact area asymmetry was observed in 83.3% of saddles. Dorsal midline interaction was observed with the same frequency. Only 22.2% of saddles assessed in the present study had panels with contact areas greater than 50%. Based on the results of this essay it can be concluded that thermography is a useful tool for the evaluation of saddle contact area with the back of horses and that there is a high frequency of fitting unconformities in saddles used in Mangalarga Marchador horses.(AU)

O ajuste inadequado da sela é um dos principais causadores de lombalgias em equinos. A raça Mangalarga Marchador está entre as mais populares do Brasil, sendo muito utilizada para cavalgadas e prática de esportes. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar termograficamente as selas utilizadas em cavalos dessa raça. Para tal, foram realizadas imagens termográficas de 18 selas de animais de diversas categorias durante uma Exposição Nacional do Cavalo Mangalarga Marchador. A avaliação foi realizada baseando-se em três parâmetros: simetria da área de contato, interação com a linha média dorsal e área total de contato com a pele (25%, 50%, 75% ou 100%). Em 83,3% das selas avaliadas foi observada assimetria da área de contato. A interação com a linha média dorsal foi observada com a mesma frequência. Apenas 22,2% das selas avaliadas no presente estudo tinham suadouros com área de contato maior que 50%. Com base nos resultados obtidos neste trabalho, conclui-se que a termografia é uma ferramenta útil na avaliação do contato das selas com o dorso dos cavalos e que existe alta frequência de inconformidades no ajuste de selas utilizadas na raça Mangalarga Marchador.(AU)

Daily oscillations of skin temperature in military personnel using thermography.

INTRODUCTION: The human body makes many physiological adjustments throughout the day, including adjustments to body temperature. The purpose of this study was to determine oscillations in the skin temperature (Tsk-1-Tsk-25) at 25 body regions of interest (ROIs) over 1 day using infrared thermography. METHODS: Tsk values of 31 male (age 22.9±3.0 years) Brazilian Air Force members were evaluated from five thermograms collected at 7, 11, 15, 19 and 23 h (Tsk7,11,15,19,23) by a Fluke imager. We applied one-way analysis of variance for repeated measures for the different times of the day and Tukey's post hoc test to determine significant Tsk differences between ROIs (α=0.05), and the cosinor analysis was used to determine the midline estimating statistic of rhythm, amplitude and acrophase of Tsk during the 24 h period. RESULTS: The anterior hands showed the greatest Tsk variations throughout the day. In the lower limbs, scapula, abdomen, chest and lower back, Tsk-11, Tsk-15, Tsk-19 and Tsk-23 were significantly different (p<0.05) from Tsk-7. The lowest Tsk values were obtained in the early morning, with increases in the afternoon and levelling after 15:00. CONCLUSIONS: The Tsk at all ROIs and the averaged Tsk showed oscillations throughout the day, with the lowest values in the early morning (07:00). Temperature fluctuations depended on the specific ROI, with thermal stabilisation in some regions in the afternoon and a central upward trend throughout the day in the hands.

The temperature of water ingested ad libitum does not influence performance during a 40-km self-paced cycling trial in the heat.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the temperature of ingested water on performance during a 40-km self-paced cycling trial in the heat (35º C and 60% relative humidity). METHODS: The study was randomized, counterbalanced, crossover and single-blinded. Ten well-trained male cycling athletes (cyclists, mountain bikers or triathletes) who were non-acclimatized to heat were subjected to four experimental situations divided into two sets. In the first set, the participants performed two trials, during which they were given either cold (10º C) or warm water (37º C) ad libitum. In these situations, the volume and timing of the water ingestion (when each bolus was ingested) were recorded and replicated in the second set, but the water temperature was reversed. RESULTS: The performance times were unaffected by the water intake volume (P=0.425), but the water at a temperature of 37º C tended to induce lower performance times (P=0.078) during the trials (AL10=93.0±3.5 min; AL37=94.4±4.1 min; SC10=93.4±4.0; SC37=97.4±4.3 min). The water intake was greater when the water was cold (P<0.05), but the temperature did not affect the heat storage rate, rectal temperature, mean skin temperature, heart rate, blood glucose level, sweat loss, sweat rate, perceived exertion rate or plasma volume changes. However, a significant reduction in the plasma volume change from pre- to postexercise was observed (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The performance, thermoregulatory, cardiovascular and metabolic responses during a 40-km self-paced cycling trial in the heat were unaffected by different water temperatures.

Deshidratación y ejercicio físico / Dehydration and exercise

La deshidratación durante el ejercicio representa uno de los principales factores que limitan el rendimiento físico: Por el contrario, una perfecta hidratación, antes, durante y después del ejercicio, mejorará el rendimiento, no solamente en la competición, si no también en los largos períodos de entrenamiento. Un mayor conocimiento sobre el tema por medio del conjunto de profesionales que actúan en el deporte, además de ayudar al deportista, puede concienciarlo sobre la importancia del consumo de líquidos. Este artículo pretende, presentar las características básicas de un cuadro de deshidratación, su etiología, fisiopatología, formas de evaluar un cuadro de deshidratación, además de su relación con la actividad física y las consecuencias que tiene en el rendimiento. Se trataran también aquellas funciones que no sufren interferencia con la deshidratación (AU)