Department of Clinical Sciences and Bioimaging, University 'G. d'Annunzio', Chieti, Pescara, Italy.
Physiol Meas. 2010 Jan;31(1):35-43. doi: 10.1088/0967-3334/31/1/003. Epub 2009 Nov 26.
Limb length discrepancy (LLD) is defined as a condition in which limbs are unequal. The asymmetric load of body segments secondary to LLD may cause a tonic contraction of back and lower limb muscles, thus resulting in subtle cutaneous temperature variations. The aim of this study was to test the capability of high-resolution thermal infrared (IR) imaging to measure the cutaneous temperature short-term adaptation, potentially associated with 'forced' LLD conditions. An experimental LLD, obtained by placing a 20 mm foot support under the dominant foot, was used. IR imaging on 18 male healthy volunteers was performed in three experimental conditions of standing position: (T(0)) neutral posture; (T(1)) experimental LLD; (T(2)) neutral posture as in T(0). Temperature variations were evaluated on the cutaneous projection of postural muscles bellies. Significant and specific temperature variations among conditions were ipsilaterally observed on the tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, quadriceps and latissimus dorsi muscles. Specific patterns characterized the cutaneous temperature as a consequence of the muscle activity associated with the posture variation. IR imaging was able to highlight specific functional activations. The method is non-invasive and it can be repeated without any discomfort for the physiopathological and clinical evaluation of LLD patients.
肢体长度差异 (LLD) 定义为肢体不等长的情况。由于 LLD，身体各部位的不对称负荷可能导致背部和下肢肌肉的紧张性收缩，从而导致皮肤温度的细微变化。本研究旨在测试高分辨率热红外 (IR) 成像测量皮肤温度短期适应的能力，这种适应可能与“强制”LLD 条件有关。通过在优势脚下放置 20 毫米的支垫来获得实验性 LLD。对 18 名男性健康志愿者在三种站立姿势实验条件下进行了 IR 成像：（T(0)）中立姿势；（T(1)）实验性 LLD；（T(2)）与 T(0) 相同的中立姿势。在姿势肌肉腹部的皮肤投影上评估了温度变化。在前胫骨、小腿三头肌、股四头肌和背阔肌的同侧观察到了条件之间的显著和特异性温度变化。特定的模式描述了由于与姿势变化相关的肌肉活动而导致的皮肤温度。IR 成像能够突出特定的功能激活。该方法是非侵入性的，可以重复进行，不会给 LLD 患者的病理生理学和临床评估带来任何不适。
