Introduction
As a part of a new researching line about establishing a specific thermal profile for high performance athletes of each specialty, we have analyzed the irradiated heat variation in judokas.
Infrared thermography is a fast and non-invasive technique to control muscular thermal balance. The aim of creating a thermal profile for each sport is based on controlling the thermal singularities, which could influence the thermographic interpretation (Ring et al., 2002).
Methods
We have developed a pilot study with 2 right-handed high performance judokas from the Spanish National League, with an average age of 21,75±0,65 years, weight of 78,5±10,5 kg, and height of 187,5±4,5 cm, and a minimal training frequency of 4 times per week. Our aim was to start with a small sample to set the main points for further researches about thermal profile for Judo athletes.
Athletes were monitored for 5 months, since October until February, with a number of 10 thermographic assessments along this period. Images were taken following the patterns set by Gómez Carmona et al. (2010) patented protocol. All images were taken in the same isolated room and conditions: 10 minutes of acclimation; a temperature average of 18,04ºC and a humidity of 43,75%. The assessments took place before the training session and the frequency was at least once per month.
A T335 FLIR Thermographic camera was used to take the images, which were analyzed through TermoTracker 1.0.0.4 software. We used the average temperatures of each body areas in order to obtain thermal differences between bilateral body areas.
Results
After analyzing all thermal images through the software, bilateral significant differences (p<0,05) were only found on dorsal exterior forearm, with an upper 0.4-degree difference in favor of the dominant hand.
Discussion
The thermal results obtained are into the normal distribution established by Nomura Cabrera et al. (2008). In terms of the significant differences founded, they could be due to the asymmetry in the dominant forearm diameter in judokas -7% bigger- (Krawczyk, 1998), or the influence of the repetitive rotational movements characteristic from judo practice (Zakynthinaki, 2010). Furthermore, the 0.4-degree difference would not be considered as injury risk (Gómez Carmona et al., 2010) but a thermal singularity in judokas because of their practice.
References
Gómez Carmona, P. M. (2010). Spain Patent No. P201031080. Oficina Española de Patentes y Marcas: UPM.
Krawczyk, B. (1998). Lateral asymmetry in upper and lower limb measurements in selected groups of male athletes. Biology of sport, 15(1), 33-38.
Nomura Cabrera, I. (2008). Thermography techniques. In M. H. M. Lee & J. M. Cohen (Eds.), Rehabilitation medicine and thermography (pp. 25-32). Wilsonville, OR: Impress Publications.
Ring, E. (2000). The Technique of Infra red Imaging in Medicine. Thermology International, 10(1), 7-14.
Zakynthinaki, M. S. (2010). Rotated balance in humans due to repetitive rotational movement. Chaos, 20(1), 013118.