Data knee skin temperature.

This study aimed to analyse the knee thermal profile of elite athletes of different sports modalities. Ninety-five non-injured elite athletes participated in the study, 60 men (age: 21.0 ± 2.2 years old) and 35 women (20.0 ± 0.8 years old). Thermograms of the anterior and posterior lower extremities were recorded, and skin temperatures (Tsk) were quantified using Thermohuman software. We used a factorial ANOVA to compare Tsk of the right and left knees considering the view (anterior and posterior), sex, and sports modality. We found that Tsk asymmetry in anterior and posterior knees was lower than 0.3 ºC and was not affected by sex or modality. A significant interaction modality vs. sex was found. Post-hoc analyses showed that female volleyballers had a higher anterior knee Tsk than gymnasts. For males, the anterior knee Tsk was lower than that of the basketball and volleyball players and gymnasts, and the male judokas had a lower Tsk than basketball players and gymnasts. Regarding the anteroposterior Tsk difference (Δ), the posterior knee Tsk was higher than the anterior knee and higher for female than male athletes. Furthermore, the Δ was higher in the futsal modality than in basketball, volleyball, and judo. Post-hocs for interaction modality vs. sex showed that the Δ was higher in female gymnasts than in judokas and volleyball players; for males, the Δ was higher in futsal than in the other modalities. Finally, the Δ was lower in male gymnastics than in basketball players and judokas. In conclusion, uninjured elite athletes present similar Tsk in the knees and thermally symmetric knee Tsk patterns independently of sex or sports modality. However, the anteroposterior Tsk difference is influenced by sex and differs among sports modalities. This finding could be useful for preventing knee injuries and tracking their recovery processes.