Relationship between foot eversion and thermographic foot skin temperature after running

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Sports Science
• Human Movement Analysis

Background:

• Assessing foot eversion, crucial for understanding running mechanics and injury prevention, often relies on instruments with field application limitations.
• Exploring novel, non-invasive methods to evaluate foot biomechanics is essential for broader accessibility and application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between foot eversion during running and skin temperature asymmetry of the foot sole.
• To determine if infrared thermography can serve as a viable method for assessing foot eversion-related thermal changes.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-two runners underwent a 30-minute running test.
• Infrared thermography captured foot sole skin temperature (medial vs. lateral) pre- and post-run.
• Kinematic analysis measured foot eversion during the running stance phase.

Main Results:

• Weak negative correlations (r=-0.3, p=0.04) were found between rearfoot thermal symmetry and eversion at contact.
• Weak negative correlations were also observed between plantar surface thermal symmetry and maximum eversion (r=-0.3, p=0.04).
• Weak correlations (r=0.4, p<0.05) were noted for temperature variations.

Conclusions:

• The study suggests that foot sole skin temperature asymmetry is not significantly related to foot eversion in runners.
• While current findings indicate limited correlation, they highlight potential avenues for future research into thermography and foot biomechanics.