Thermographic analysis of thighs of trained men during the leg extension exercise

Abstract

The infrared thermography is a non-radioactive and non-invasive detection tool. It allows the analysis of physiological functions associated with skin temperature control. Purpose: To analyze the influence of resistance training (RT) on the skin temperature of the thigh in trained individuals. Methods: Ten recreationally trained men (age: 24.0 ± 2.7 years; height: 1.74 ± 0.1 m; body mass index: 27.16 ± 3.8 kg/m2) were submitted to anthropometric evaluation and determination of the loads for 10 repetition maximum (RM) on the dominant side, using the leg extension exercise. After 48 hours, the subjects were conducted to the training session, which consisted of five sets with loads equal to 70% of 10 RM. The recovery intervals between the series were three minutes. At the end of the training session, the participants indicated the OMNI perceived exertion scale as very hard. Thermographic images were taken before the training session and immediately after the last RT sets. The mean room temperature was maintained at 20.3 ± 0.4 °C, with a mean relative air humidity of 55.3 ± 1.0% RH. Results: No significant difference was found in the skin anterior thigh temperature of the dominant and nondominant side of the individuals after the intervention. Conclusion: The volume and intensity characteristics prescribed in the present study were not able to alter significantly the skin temperature of the participants’ anterior thigh immediately after the training session.