Open AccessIs Infrared Thermography Reliable to Assess Pain in the Trapezius Muscle Region?
Author(s) -
Talita Leite dos Santos Moraes,
Luma Soares Lustosa,
Larissa Moura Santos Ramos,
Sabrina Mondadori Boaretto,
Dihogo Gama de Matos,
Jader Farias Pereira Neto,
Eduardo Borba Neves,
Hellen Bandeira de Pontes Santos,
Felipe J. Aidar,
Walderi Monteiro da Silva Júnior
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the open sports sciences journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.225
H-Index - 12
ISSN - 1875-399X
DOI - 10.2174/1875399x02114010025
Subject(s) - intraclass correlation , medicine , thermography , trapezius muscle , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , electromyography , psychometrics , infrared , clinical psychology , physics , optics
Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of infrared thermography (IT) in skin temperature analysis of people with pain complaints in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: A total of 82 subjects (24.8 ± 6.9 years; 63.8 ± 13.1 kg) of both genders who had moderate (VAS-3) or severe pain in the upper trapezius muscle were evaluated. Skin temperatures of four areas (ROIs) were analyzed by IT using a FLIR camera (model T640SC - Sweden). Each evaluator performed two area analyses at different times. Results: The evaluation of the four areas indicated a very strong overall intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for both intra-examiner (Examiner 1: ICC = 0.936; 95% CI = 0.905–0.959; P < 0.001; Examiner 2: ICC = 0.979; 95% CI = 0.968–0.987; P < 0.001) and inter-examiner (Measurement 1: ICC = 0.933; 95% CI = 0.902–0.958; P < 0.001; Measurement 2: ICC = 0.979; 95% CI = 0.968–0.987; P < 0.001). The ICC was regular on ROI 3 in the measurement 1 inter-exam test, and the ROI 1, ROI 2, and ROI 4 values were strong; all points were very strong in measurement 2. The ICC was rated from strong to very strong for both examiners in the intra-examiner test at all points. Conclusion: IT was reproducible in measuring the upper trapezius muscle skin temperature, and the intra and inter-examiner agreement levels can be used as a reliable tool in clinical practice.