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Exercise-Associated Thermographic Changes in Young and Elderly Subjects

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Abstract

This study aimed at evaluating the thermographic changes associated with localized exercise in young and elderly subjects. An exercise protocol using 1 kg load was applied during 3 min to the knee flexors of 14 elderly (67 ± 5 years) and 15 young (23 ± 2 years) healthy subjects. The posterior thigh’s skin temperature of the exercised limb and contralateral limb were measured by infrared thermography on pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and during the 10-min period post-exercise. Difference (p < 0.01) between elderly and young subjects was observed on pre-exercise temperature. Although differences were not observed between pre-exercise and immediately post-exercise temperature in the exercised limb, thermographic profile displayed heat concentration in exercised areas for both groups. Temperature reduction was only observed for the young group on the 10-min post-exercise (p < 0.05) in the exercised limb (30.7 ± 1.7 to 30.3 ± 1.5 °C). In contrast, there was a temperature reduction post-exercise (p < 0.01) in the contralateral limb for both groups. These results present new evidences that elderly and young subjects display similar capacity of heat production; however, the elderly subjects presented a lower resting temperature and slower heat dissipation. This work contributes to improve the understanding about temperature changes in elderly subjects and may present implications to the sports and rehabilitation programs.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to Eliane Coutinho and Josimar Sartori for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil

    José J. A. Ferreira, Lorena C. S. Mendonça, José R. Rebelatto & Tania F. Salvini

  2. Physics Institute of São Carlos, University of São Paulo, Sao Carlos, SP, Brazil

    Luiz A. O. Nunes & Antônio C. C. Andrade Filho

Authors
  1. José J. A. Ferreira
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  2. Lorena C. S. Mendonça
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  3. Luiz A. O. Nunes
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  4. Antônio C. C. Andrade Filho
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  6. Tania F. Salvini
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Correspondence to José J. A. Ferreira.

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Ferreira, J.J.A., Mendonça, L.C.S., Nunes, L.A.O. et al. Exercise-Associated Thermographic Changes in Young and Elderly Subjects. Ann Biomed Eng 36, 1420–1427 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-008-9512-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-008-9512-1

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