Assessing Internal Load with Thermographic Pictures?

🔍 A systematic review examined non-invasive methods to monitor internal load in athletes using infrared thermography (IRT). Over 10,000 studies were screened to identify research focused on changes in IRT parameters before and after (non-)sport-specific exercise in athletic populations.

⚙️ The review revealed that IRT parameters typically decrease within the first 15 minutes after exercise, with observed increases at later time points—30 minutes, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-exercise. However, the relationships between IRT changes and other internal load markers remain inconsistent across the literature.

📈 While IRT appears promising as a non-invasive monitoring tool, further research is necessary—especially regarding its association with inflammatory parameters—to fully understand the underlying physiological mechanisms. These insights could support practitioners in integrating IRT with conventional load monitoring for a more comprehensive assessment of athlete recovery and performance.

Full Text: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39734601/