Protocol to evaluate human thermoregulation before and after thermal stress.

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• The human body dissipates significant heat via infrared radiation, measurable by Infrared Thermography (IRT).
• IRT provides thermal maps of the body, aiding in the investigation of diseases with symptoms like swelling, pain, infection, rash, and increased skin temperature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and validate a comprehensive protocol for acquiring full-body Infrared Thermography (IRT) images.
• To capture thermographic data at rest and after physical exertion to assess thermoregulatory capacity.
• To ensure the protocol's reproducibility across diverse populations and clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Developed a protocol for capturing anterior, posterior, and sagittal plane IRT images.
• Integrated the modified Bruce test as a standardized thermal stressor.
• Collected demographic, physiological (core temperature), environmental, and subjective (pain, activity level) data via questionnaires.

Main Results:

• The protocol successfully combined IRT image acquisition with a modified Bruce test for thermal stress.
• Data on skin temperature distribution across the entire body was systematically collected.
• The methodology considered clinical, environmental, and technical factors for reproducibility.

Conclusions:

• The established protocol is a valuable tool for studying human thermoregulatory capacity.
• This approach can be applied to investigate thermophysiological changes in various medical conditions.
• The protocol facilitates research into diseases presenting with altered skin temperature patterns.