Thermal changes during high intensity, short term exercise
High intensity, short term exercise, such as the Wingate anaerobic test is associated with blood pulling to the lower limbs. We are using a thermal infrared (IR) camera to detect temperature changes in the head and torso compared with the lower limbs, before and after the exercise test. The results from such a study will shed light on fundamental physiological and hemodynamic changes associated with high-intensity exercise that can be measured remotely by an IR camera, and alert when pathologic conditions are expressed.
In addition, we are investigating the thermogenic aspect of muscle energetics during high-intensity short-term exercise. We are developing a new algorithm that will predict the temperature increase associated with muscle mechanics and metabolism, unrelated to the blood supply and heat dissipation. This will provide powerful vital information, remotely, during intense sports to avoid un-necessary heat stroke and other health-hazard conditions.
We use thermal imaging also during aerobic exercise stress test in order to determine the ventilatory anaerobic threshold, remotely, using thermal images of the chest. We found a high correlation between the increased torso temperature with the increased pulmonary ventilation above the ventilatory anaerobic threshold.
