Effect of Whole-, Upper-, and Lower-Body High-Intensity Rowing Exercise on Skin Temperature Measured by Thermography.

Despite the growing works analyzing exercise-induced thermoregulatory adjustments through thermography, the skin temperature (Tsk) response of the same muscle groups underwent to different exercise demands has not been investigated. This study analyzed the behavior of Tsk of the same muscle groups when exercised with different demands in rowing. Eighteen men underwent three performance tests on a rowing ergometer: whole-body 2,000 m test (RT), upper-body (RT), and lower-body (RT) tests. In each condition, thermograms were recorded before (pre), immediately after test (post), and at 10 (REC), 20 (REC), and 30 (REC) minutes post-exercise recovery. Tsk was measured at the pectoral (control body region), upper back, quadriceps, brachial biceps, and forearm. Pectoral-Tsk reduced comparably in response to all testing conditions ( < .05). Upper back-Tsk decreased post ( < .001) and returned to baseline in the RT (REC, = 1.0) and RT (REC, = .128), while remained reduced in the RT ( < .001). Quadriceps-Tsk reduced post ( < .05) and returned to baseline in the RT and RT at REC ( = 1.0), remaining reduced in the RT during recovery ( < .05). Regarding the upper limbs, Tsk increased more markedly in the RT versus RT during the recovery period ( < .05); in the RT, biceps-Tsk remained below baseline over time ( < .05), whereas the forearm-Tsk was restored at REC ( = 1.0). Manipulating the muscle groups involved in rowing alters the Tsk response within equal ROI. Exercise-induced Tsk changes can reflect local hemodynamic and thermoregulatory adjustments.