Thermography Applied During Exercises With or Without Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation: Individual and Comparative Analysis

Author(s)

Paolillo, Fernanda Rossi ^[1] ; Lins, Emery C. ^[2] ; Corazza, Adalberto Vieira ^{[1, 3]} ; Kurachi, Cristina ^[1] ; Bagnato, Vanderlei Salvador ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Phys Inst Sao Carlos IFSC, Opt Grp, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ ABC UFABC, Ctr Engn Modeling & Appl Social Sci, Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[3] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Fac Dent Piracicaba, Dept Morphol, Piracicaba, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Photomedicine and Laser Surgery; v. 31, n. 7, p. 349-355, JUL 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 12

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the cutaneous temperature during an exercise on a treadmill with or without infrared light-emitting diode (LED) irradiation in postmenopausal women. Background data: Thermography is an imaging technique in which radiation emitted by a body in the middle and far infrared spectrum is detected and associated with the temperature of the body's surface. Materials and methods: Eighteen postmenopausal women were randomly divided into two groups: (1) the LED group, which performed the exercises on a treadmill associated with phototherapy (n = 9) and; (2) the exercise group, which performed the exercises on a treadmill without additional phototherapy (n = 9). The irradiation parameters for each women's thigh were: array of 2000 infrared LEDs (850 nm) with an area of 1,110 cm(2), 100 W, 39 mW/cm(2), and 108 J/cm(2) for 45 min. The submaximal constant-speed exercise on the treadmill at intensities between 85% and 90% maximal heart rate (HRmax) with or without phototherapy were performed during 45 min, to perform the thermographic analysis. Thermography images were captured before the exercise (t = 0), after 10, 35, and 45 min of exercising (t = 10, t = 35, and t = 45) and at 5 min post-exercising (t = 50). Results: The LED group showed an increased cutaneous thigh temperature during the exercise (from 33.5 +/- 0.8 degrees C to 34.6 +/- 0.9 degrees C, p = 0.03), whereas the exercise group showed a reduced cutaneous temperature (from 33.5 +/- 0.6 to 32.7 +/- 0.7 degrees C, p = 0.02). The difference between the groups was significant (p < 0.05) at t = 35, t = 45, and t = 50. Conclusions: These data indicate an improved microcirculation, and can explain one possible mechanism of action of phototherapy associated with physical exercises. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 98/14270-8 - Center for Optical and Photonics Science
• Grantee: Vanderlei Salvador Bagnato
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC