Thermographic patterns of the upper and lower limbs: baseline data

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Physiology

Background:

• Thermography offers a non-invasive method for assessing peripheral circulation.
• Establishing normative thermographic data is crucial for identifying pathological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather normative baseline thermographic data in healthy adults.
• To compare hand and foot thermographic distribution patterns.
• To identify temperature variations and symmetries in limbs.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-centre study using a FLIR thermal camera.
• Acquired thermographic data from hands, feet, and lower limbs under controlled conditions.
• Analyzed plantar, dorsal, volar, and anterior aspects for temperature patterns.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated general symmetry in skin temperature between contralateral limbs.
• Observed minimal intersubject temperature variation with consistent patterns in digits.
• Identified the thumb and the big/5th toe as warmest digits, with a temperature gradient in fingers and toes.

Conclusions:

• Limb skin temperature measurement via thermal imaging is feasible and reproducible.
• Consistent thermographic patterns exist in healthy individuals' hands and feet.
• This data serves as a foundation for investigating thermography's clinical utility in diagnosing vascular insufficiency.