Temporal Skin Temperature as an Indicator of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Assessed with Selected Methods

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is possible to use infrared thermography to assess cardiovascular fitness and aerobic capacity. Changes in temporal temperature during and after a single bout of high-intensity exercise were measured from subjects with varying levels of physical activity. Significant correlation between the temporal temperature measured during recovery time with cardiovascular fitness parameters (HRR and HRV) and maximum oxygen consumption confirm the usefulness of thermal imagining in aerobic capacity evaluation. These results could foster the employment of infrared thermography to monitor athletic/athletes’ performance. ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine whether there are associations between cardiovascular fitness (and aerobic capacity) and changes in temporal skin temperature during and after a single bout of high-intensity exercise. Twenty-three men with varying levels of physical activity (VO(2)max: 59.03 ± 11.19 (mL/kg/min), body mass 71.5 ± 10.4 (kg), body height 179 ± 8 (cm)) participated in the study. Each subject performed an incremental test and, after a 48-h interval, a 110%Pmax power test combined with an analysis of the thermal parameters, heart rate recovery and heart rate variability. Thermal radiation density from the body surface (temple) was measured using a Sonel KT384 thermal imaging camera immediately after warm-up (Tb), immediately after exercise (Te) and 120 sec after the end of exercise (Tr). The differences between measurements were then calculated. The correlation analysis between the thermal and cardiovascular function parameters during the recovery period showed strong positive associations between the Tr-Te difference and measures of cardiovascular fitness (50 < r < 69, p < 0.05). For example, the correlation coefficient between Tr-Te and VO(2)max reached 0.55 and between Tr-Te and Pmax reached 0.68. The results obtained indicate that the measurement of temporal temperature during and after an intense 3-min bout of exercise can be used to assess aerobic physical capacity and cardiovascular fitness.