## 3 Results
### Mean Temperature Differences of the Whole Body  
To calculate the mean temperature differences on the fencing uniform, the ROIs shown in Figure 1a,b were considered. Analysing foil and epee fencers collectively, 50% presented first a decrease of temperature between the start and the middle of the training and then an increase from the middle to the end of the training. The remaining 50% was divided in 38% presenting always an increase of temperature from the start to the end of the training and 13% that had first an increase and later a decrease of temperature.  
This temperature trend can be attributed to the individual response of the athletes. During the investigation, the air temperature stayed in the recommended range of 18-25 \({}^{\circ}\)C that does not affect the thermoregulation mechanisms related to shivering or sweating [24]. Further evidence of the independence from the environmental parameters was given by the calculation of the correlation between the temperature difference recorded in the air and on the fencing uniform. Any correlation was found between these parameters (R\({}^{2}\) < 0.01), showing that during fencing the main cause of the temperature increase or decrease is related to thermoregulatory processes occurring while practising this sport.  
High-temperature variations were recorded during the test, as it is shown in Figure 2. There is to consider that this is not the skin temperature variation, but the difference of temperature on the fencing uniform, which may vary in a larger range. \(\Delta\)T higher than 10 \({}^{\circ}\)C would not be realistic on the skin, but the external surface of the protective clothing is usually colder than the internal part, and therefore much colder than the skin temperature.  
It was possible to recognise a correspondence between the competition level (and therefore the fitness level) and the thermal behaviour of the athletes, which shows that professional athletes, who were participating in international competitions, were the only ones showing a constant increase of temperature in the measurement phases (\(\Delta\)T\({}_{12}\) > 0, \(\Delta\)T\({}_{23}\) > 0). Veteran athletes showed first a decrease and a later increase in temperature (\(\Delta\)T\({}_{12}\) < 0, \(\Delta\)T\({}_{23}\) > 0), but lower \(\Delta\)T were detected when compared to national and international athletes. Finally, most of the national athletes were presenting first a decrease and a later increase of temperature (\(\Delta\)T\({}_{12}\) < 0, \(\Delta\)T\({}_{23}\) > 0), with the exception of only one fencer, who was showing the opposite trend (\(\Delta\)T\({}_{12}\) > 0, \(\Delta\)T\({}_{23}\) < 0). This is because the heat produced by this athlete was already given up to the environment, therefore the temperature on the fencing uniform was already low.  
\begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline \hline \multirow{2}{*}{**ID**} & \multicolumn{3}{c}{**RPE Scale Measured**} \\ \cline{2-3}  & **Before the Training** & **During the Training** & **After the Training** \\  & **(10 min after Entering)** & **(after 1 h of Fencing Assaults)** & **(10 min after the Training)** \\ \hline
**1** & 7 & 19 & 7 \\ \hline
**2** & 7 & 18 & 7 \\ \hline
**3** & 7 & 16 & 8 \\ \hline
**4** & 8 & 17 & 8 \\ \hline
**5** & 7 & 18 & 8 \\ \hline
**6** & 7 & 17 & 7 \\ \hline
**7** & 8 & 16 & 8 \\ \hline
**8** & 7 & 16 & 7 \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table}
Table 5: Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) scale measured for all the athletes before, during and after the training (before the thermal images were acquired).