An Overview of Recent Application of Medical Infrared Thermography in Sports Medicine in Austria <s> International Status of Medical Infrared Imaging <s> Discusses comparing infrared images under various thermal environmental conditions through normalization of skin surface temperature. To evaluate IR images obtained under various thermal environmental conditions, we proposed a human thermal model with which IR images obtained under certain thermal environmental conditions can be converted into images under other conditions. The model was based on a numerical calculation of the bio-heat transfer equations that express heat transfer phenomena within the human body. A 16-cylinder-segment model was used as the geometry of the human body. Comparisons of IR images with their converted images indicate that this method is effective in eliminating the influence of the thermal environmental conditions. However, the difference between the converted images and the original ones varies among segments. In future work, we will use this method to investigate the IR images of several subjects under various thermal environments. <s> BIB001 </s> An Overview of Recent Application of Medical Infrared Thermography in Sports Medicine in Austria <s> International Status of Medical Infrared Imaging <s> Reduced blood flow may contribute to the pathophysiology of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders (UEMSD), such as tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome. The study objective was to characterize potential differences in cutaneous temperature, among three groups of office workers assessed by dynamic thermography following a 9-min typing challenge: those with UEMSD, with ( n=6) or without ( n=10) cold hands exacerbated by keyboard use, and control subjects ( n=12). Temperature images of the metacarpal region of the dorsal hand were obtained 1 min before typing, and during three 2-min sample periods [0-2 min (early), 3-5 min (middle), and 8-10 min (late)] after typing. Mean temperature increased from baseline levels immediately after typing by a similar magnitude, 0.7 (0.3) degrees C in controls and 0.6 (0.2) degrees C in UEMSD cases without cold hands, but only by 0.1 (0.3) degrees C in those with cold hands. Using paired t-tests for within group comparisons of mean dorsal temperature between successive imaging periods, three patterns of temperature change were apparent during 10 min following typing. Controls further increased mean temperature by 0.1 degrees C ( t-test, P=0.001) at 3-5 min post-typing before a late temperature decline of -0.3 degrees C ( t-test, P=0.04), while cases without cold hands showed no change from initial post-typing mean temperature rise during middle or late periods. In contrast, subjects with keyboard-induced cold hands had no change from initial post-typing temperature until a decrease at the late period of -0.3 degrees C ( t-test, P=0.06). Infrared thermography appears to distinguish between the three groups of subjects, with keyboard-induced cold hand symptoms presumably due, at least partially, to reduced blood flow. <s> BIB002 </s> An Overview of Recent Application of Medical Infrared Thermography in Sports Medicine in Austria <s> International Status of Medical Infrared Imaging <s> Since the early days of thermography in the 1950s, image processing techniques, sensitivity of thermal sensors and spatial resolution have progressed greatly, holding out fresh promise for infrared (IR) imaging techniques. Applications in civil, industrial and healthcare fields are thus reaching a high level of technical performance. The relationship between body temperature and disease was documented since 400 bc. In many diseases there are variations in blood flow, and these in turn affect the skin temperature. IR imaging offers a useful and non-invasive approach to the diagnosis and treatment (as therapeutic aids) of many disorders, in particular in the areas of rheumatology, dermatology, orthopaedics and circulatory abnormalities. This paper reviews many usages (and hence the limitations) of thermography in biomedical fields. <s> BIB003
MIT has been recognized by the American Medical Association council as a feasible diagnostic tool since 1987 and was recently acknowledged by the American Academy of Medical Infrared Imaging. Various groups and associations promote the proper application of thermal imaging in the practice of sports medicine. These groups include the European Association of Thermology, the United Kingdom Thermography Association, and the Northern Norwegian Centre for Medical Thermography, the American Academy of Thermology and the German Society of Thermography and Regulation Medicine (DGTR) as one of the oldest medical thermography society. The overall aim of these groups is to further improve reliable standardized methods and to develop appropriate protocols for clinical application. The usefulness of MIT in sports medicine has been noted often BIB003 . However, some doubts about the technology highlight the necessity of doing further research. The major argument is whether MIT can accurately determine thermal variations to enable sufficient quantitative analyses BIB002 . Proponents of MIT state that "state-of-the-art" computerized systems using complex statistical data analysis ensure high quality results BIB001 and that thermal sensitivity has increased, creating a new dimension that should be exploited and applied  . The absence of a standardized reference images is also a problem  . A research group from the University of Glamorgan is currently conducting research to determine "normal" thermograms by creating an "Infrared Atlas of Normal Human Skin Temperature Distribution". Well-designed research studies can address these issues and help to resolve them.