Skin temperature bilateral differences at upper limbs and joints in healthy subjects

Abstract

The absence of reference skin temperature values of the upper limbs and joints difficult the wider usage of infrared thermal imaging as a complimentary method for diagnosis and treatment assessment of musculoskeletal conditions affecting the upper extremities. In this research 40 healthy participants were screened with infrared images using internationally accepted capture protocol, and regions of interest such as arm, forearm, hand, shoulder, elbow and wrist both in both anterior and posterior views were characterized in mean temperature distribution and bilateral differences. It was found that the highest bilateral difference was of 0.5 ± 0.3 °C at the anterior forearm region. Being 0.5 °C suggested as threshold for further investigation for pathological state.