Profile of infrared thermography in elite soccer players

Effect of Exercise on Athletes Performing in Fencing Uniforms: Methodology and Preliminary Results of the Use of Infrared Thermography to Detect the Thermal Behaviour of Fencers

In recent times, infrared thermography has been often applied to sport science, in order to evaluate athletes’ performance in relation to their thermal behaviour. As there is a lack of studies for the sport of fencing, this paper aims to provide preliminary results showing the thermal behaviour of fencers of different competitive level and to provide a methodology for its assessment. In particular, thermal images were acquired before, during and after the training, as well as the metabolic rate and the rate of perceived exertion, for eight fencers with different competitive levels (international/national/veteran). Results showed that in moderate environments there was any correlation between the environmental parameters and temperature trend on athletes’ bodies, while competitive level and thermal behaviour were connected. The presence of thermal asymmetries was also detected. In general, from these preliminary results, professional athletes presented the same temperature trend. Therefore, further studies should be carried out in order to investigate these findings on a larger sample of elite athletes, as their thermal response may be important for improving their performance.

Effects of intermittent negative pressure and active recovery therapies in the post-match period in elite soccer players: A randomized, parallel arm, comparative study

Study aim: This study compared the effects of intermittent negative pressure therapy (INPT) vs. active recovery therapy (ART) on post-match physiological parameters such as serum CK level and skin temperature of the lower limbs in elite soccer players.

Material and methods: Twenty healthy male professional soccer players from a Brazilian first division soccer club were enrolled in this randomized, parallel arm, open label, comparative study. After participating in 2 soccer matches, they were randomly assigned to two groups (n = 10) to receive a 30-min session of INPT (intermittent exchange of hypobaric pressure range 33 to 51 mmHg) or ART (self-myofascial release, mobility and stability exercises, and cycle ergometer exercise). The intervention was conducted after a match with assessments immediately before and after the intervention and again 24 h after the intervention.

Results: A significant interaction effect (F2,36 = 4.503, p = 0.018, η2 = 0.130) was observed, indicating that the decrease of CK from pre-intervention to 24 h post-intervention was greater in the INPT than in the ART group. Lower limb skin temperature was significantly lower after INPT than after ART (p < 0.003).

Conclusions: Serum CK level and skin temperature of lower limbs showed better recovery up to 24 h after the intervention with INPT in elite soccer players.