Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic Patients

Introduction: Reliable objective and non-invasive assessments of myotendinous alterations in patients with muscle tone disorders secondary to brain damage represent an important challenge in health science. The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between the skin temperature and the fu...

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Main Authors: Alessio Cabizosu, Alberto López-López, Daniele Grotto, Josefina Maria Vegara-Meseguer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/542
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author Alessio Cabizosu
Alberto López-López
Daniele Grotto
Josefina Maria Vegara-Meseguer
author_facet Alessio Cabizosu
Alberto López-López
Daniele Grotto
Josefina Maria Vegara-Meseguer
author_sort Alessio Cabizosu
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Reliable objective and non-invasive assessments of myotendinous alterations in patients with muscle tone disorders secondary to brain damage represent an important challenge in health science. The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between the skin temperature and the functional response in the triceps suralis of hemiplegic patients in relation to the healthy control group. Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted based on the STARD recommendations. A total of 26 volunteers, 13 participants with unilateral motor impairment and 13 healthy patients, participated and completed the study. Intragroup and intergroup clinical thermography tests were performed, and the results were compared in relation to the timed up and go test, pain threshold to pressure, and modified Ashworth scale. Results: Statistically relevant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.01) could be observed between the two groups in each test performed. Thermographic analysis revealed a difference in temperature between the healthy and affected sides in the inter- and intra-group comparisons. It was possible to observe statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.01) between limbs in the brain damage group (the side affected was at a lower temperature), while no such differences were observed between limbs in the healthy control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Conclusions: Our results confirmed that clinical thermography could be a potentially useful tool in the assessment of both structural and functional alterations of the musculoskeletal system in patients with chronic brain damage.
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spelling doaj-art-b962b08eb23046ffb7cdca7594d557592025-08-20T02:18:19ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-03-0115454210.3390/life15040542Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic PatientsAlessio Cabizosu0Alberto López-López1Daniele Grotto2Josefina Maria Vegara-Meseguer3THERMHESC Group, Ribera Hospital de Molina San Antonio, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, SpainAstrapace Institute, Association for the Treatment of Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Related Pathologies, 30107 Murcia, SpainTHERMHESC Group, Ribera Hospital de Molina San Antonio, Catholic University of Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, SpainComputer Engineering Department, Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia (UCAM), 30107 Murcia, SpainIntroduction: Reliable objective and non-invasive assessments of myotendinous alterations in patients with muscle tone disorders secondary to brain damage represent an important challenge in health science. The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between the skin temperature and the functional response in the triceps suralis of hemiplegic patients in relation to the healthy control group. Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted based on the STARD recommendations. A total of 26 volunteers, 13 participants with unilateral motor impairment and 13 healthy patients, participated and completed the study. Intragroup and intergroup clinical thermography tests were performed, and the results were compared in relation to the timed up and go test, pain threshold to pressure, and modified Ashworth scale. Results: Statistically relevant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.01) could be observed between the two groups in each test performed. Thermographic analysis revealed a difference in temperature between the healthy and affected sides in the inter- and intra-group comparisons. It was possible to observe statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> < 0.01) between limbs in the brain damage group (the side affected was at a lower temperature), while no such differences were observed between limbs in the healthy control group (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Conclusions: Our results confirmed that clinical thermography could be a potentially useful tool in the assessment of both structural and functional alterations of the musculoskeletal system in patients with chronic brain damage.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/542thermographybrain damagemodified Ashworth scaletimed up and gopressure pain threshold
spellingShingle Alessio Cabizosu
Alberto López-López
Daniele Grotto
Josefina Maria Vegara-Meseguer
Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic Patients
Life
thermography
brain damage
modified Ashworth scale
timed up and go
pressure pain threshold
title Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic Patients
title_full Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic Patients
title_fullStr Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic Patients
title_full_unstemmed Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic Patients
title_short Relationship Between Infrared Thermography and Functional Parameters in the Lower Limbs of Hemiplegic Patients
title_sort relationship between infrared thermography and functional parameters in the lower limbs of hemiplegic patients
topic thermography
brain damage
modified Ashworth scale
timed up and go
pressure pain threshold
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/542
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