Are the infrared thermography findings skin temperature-dependent? a study on neck pain patients

作者：Zaproudina Nina^*; Airaksinen Olavi; Narhi Matti

来源：Skin Research and Technology, 2013, 19(1): E537-E544.

DOI：10.1111/srt.12007

• infrared thermography
• neck pain
• skin temperature
• coldness

Background: Skin temperature (Tsk) disorders have been proposed as sign of impaired innervation in several conditions, but the influence of different factors on the infrared thermography (IRT) findings remains unclear. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods: The relations between the Tsk and delta T (side-to-side temperature difference) values, and influence of age, gender, anthropometric characteristics and pain intensity on those values were analysed in non-specific neck pain (NP) patients (n = 91) using mixed model analysis. IRT findings were also compared in subgroups of NP patients: with cold (CHNPP, n = 21) or warm hands (WHNPP, n = 56) and healthy controls, with cold (CHC, n = 11) or warm hands (WHC, n = 19). Also, the stability of delta T values in CHNPP was examined. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: Only the area of measurement and the actual Tsk influenced the delta T values. CHNPP demonstrated higher delta T values in distal parts, compared with WHNPP and controls, but those values vanished when their hands turned warm. delta T values in CHNPP were related to the pain intensity. The findings of WHNPP and WHC did not differ. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion: Our results suggest that the delta T values as signs of impaired Tsk regulation are dynamic and better detectable in cold skin. The results underline the need of caution in interpretation of IRT findings.

• 出版日期2013-2