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.

本研究旨在分析不同运动项目精英运动员的膝关节热特征（thermal profile）。本研究共纳入95名无损伤精英运动员，其中男性60名（年龄：21.0±2.2岁），女性35名（年龄：20.0±0.8岁）。研究人员记录了受试者下肢前侧与后侧的热成像图（thermograms），并使用Thermohuman软件量化皮肤温度（skin temperatures, Tsk）。本研究采用析因方差分析（factorial ANOVA），结合拍摄视角（前侧、后侧）、受试者性别与运动项目，对比双侧膝关节的皮肤温度。研究发现，膝关节前侧与后侧的皮肤温度不对称性均低于0.3℃，且不受性别或运动项目的影响。我们观察到运动项目与性别的交互作用具有统计学意义。事后检验（post-hoc analyses）显示，女子排球运动员的前侧膝关节皮肤温度高于体操运动员。对于男性群体而言，篮球运动员、排球运动员与体操运动员的前侧膝关节皮肤温度均高于其余组别，而男子柔道运动员的皮肤温度低于篮球运动员与体操运动员。关于前后侧皮肤温度差值（Δ，anteroposterior Tsk difference），后侧膝关节皮肤温度高于前侧，且女性运动员的差值高于男性。此外，五人制足球（futsal）项目的差值高于篮球、排球与柔道项目。针对运动项目与性别的交互作用的事后检验显示，女子体操运动员的差值高于柔道运动员与排球运动员；而男性群体中，五人制足球运动员的差值高于其余所有运动项目。最后，男子体操运动员的差值低于篮球运动员与柔道运动员。综上，无损伤精英运动员的膝关节皮肤温度整体相近，且膝关节热分布模式呈对称状态，不受性别或运动项目的影响。但前后侧膝关节的皮肤温度差值受性别影响，且在不同运动项目间存在差异。该发现可为膝关节损伤预防与康复进程监测提供参考依据。