Infrared Thermography for the Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Pain

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study sought to evaluate the vasomotor response in the pain referral area of healthy individuals, performing the same procedure with and without the experience of delayed onset muscle soreness.

Detailed Description
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Validity of infrared thermography for properly diagnosing musculoskeletal pain and their clinical applicability is lacking. This study investigates temperature changes on the upper extremity before and after a suprathreshold stimulation (painful stimulus) with a digital algometer over the infraspinatus muscle. The same procedure is performed in two consecutive days, 24 hours apart (Day-1 and Day-2). At the end of Day-1, an eccentric exercise is performed in order to to induce delayed onset muscle soreness on the external rotators of the shoulder.

Official Title
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The Contribution and Validity of Infrared Thermography in the Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Pain

Conditions
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Healthy, Pain, Temperature Change, Body

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Being healthy and free from any pain specific to the upper limbs and/or in general. Exclusion Criteria: Previous history of chronic pain. Any systemic diseases or regional pathology which can interfere with the outcome measures.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Healthy subjects<br>Participants free from any pain specific to the upper limb, chronic pain or other disease. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in temperature of pixels on the upper extremity: infrared thermography | A thermography image of the upper extremity of the body will be taken on both days of assessment before and after applying a painful stimulus. Changes in colour pixels will be analysed to determine temperature changes. | Day-1 (baseline assessment, pre exercise before painful stimulus), Day-1 (baseline assessment, pre exercise after painful stimulus), Day-2 (24 hours post-exercise before painful stimulus), Day-2 (24 hours post-exercise after painful stimulus) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes in Pressure Pain Thresholds: pressure algometry | Changes in pressure pain thresholds will be determined with pressure algometry over the infraspinatus muscle. Pressure Pain Threshold is defined as the exact time point where the pressure is first being perceived as painful. | Day-1 (baseline assessment, pre exercise before painful stimulus), Day-2 (24 hours post-exercise before painful stimulus) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Musculoskeletal pain, Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, Pain sensitivity, Infrared thermography, Referred pain