## 4 Discussion  
This paper provided a preliminary analysis of the thermal profile for fencers, as studies concerning the application of IRT to this sport are generally limited to qualitative results. Therefore, there was a necessity to develop a methodology for the use of this innovative technology to fencing. Considering the mean temperature differences of the whole body, most athletes showed first a temperature decrease and a later increase. This trend was also observed in studies examining other sports, both for graded and constant load exercise [15; 26]. The initial decrease of temperature is usually attributed either to vasoconstriction, due to the delivery of the blood flow to the working muscles, or to sweat evaporation since it can remove latent heat from the skin [15]. This is the general pattern of skin temperature observed despite the sport performed, even if individual differences of the time evolution of this parameter can be detected [12; 13; 26]. In the case of fencing, the majority of the athletes presented first a decrease and a later increase in temperature (ID3 - ID4 - ID5 - ID7), as it happened in other sports. The increase of temperature at the end of the training can be attributed to the release of the heat stored in the body core to the ambient. The opposite trend was detected only for one fencer (ID 6), probably due to the different individual response of this athlete. After the first hour of training ID 6 is probably in the phase of vasodilation and already cooled at the end of the training. Finally, it is interesting to notice that international athletes presented all the same temperature pattern, consisting of a high increase in temperature during and after the training. They also showed the highest temperature differences, probably due to the high effort that these athletes present during training. However, this result could also correspond to a particularly favourable thermal profile for the sport of fencing, which allows international athletes to lose heat through the skin and uniforms, helping them to reduce the core temperature and improving their performance. Individual differences occurred in the extent of \(\Delta\)T, even if the temperature differences were particularly high for international athletes. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c c c} \hline \hline \multicolumn{6}{c}{**FOIL FENCERS**} \\ \hline  & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**Veteran ID 4**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**National ID 3**} & \multicolumn{2}{c}{**International ID 1**} \\ \cline{2-7}  & \(\Delta\)T\({There is to notice that in the case of fencing it was not possible to detect directly skin temperature, due to the presence of the protective clothing and the consequent loss of information that would occur in the time needed to remove it, which also explains the consistent temperature differences. The temperature variation of the single ROIs is often a function of the thermal profile of the sport performed. For example, in sports such as running the initial skin temperature decrease is more evident in the most peripheral regions such as the upper body, as it is not directly involved in the muscular work, while the most used muscles present a lower temperature decrease [26]. The same trend can be detected in other sports such as cycling [13], while for example in swimming even the different swimming style can determine a diverse temperature trend of the single ROIs [16]. Usually, in combat sports, the higher temperature increases are related to the ROIs that include the muscles more involved in muscular work [17]. This is confirmed also in the sport of fencing, where the highest temperatures were recorded on the legs, leading arm or trunk. High temperatures in the part of the trunk are a consequence of the increase of the core temperatures that can be reached while practising this sport, as the trunk is where vital organs are located.