Albuquerque Nelson, Gonçalves Liliana, Strasse Wally, Gabriel Joaquim, Teixeira Laetitia, Cantista Pedro
Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
Termalistur, Termas de São Pedro do Sul, 3660-692 Várzea, Portugal.
Diagnostics (Basel). 2025 May 23;15(11):1317. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics15111317.
: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts the aging population. Among non-invasive assessment tools, infrared thermography (IRT) has been highlighted as a radiation-free method to evaluate thermal variations in the lumbar region. However, its applicability in clinical practice and correlation with functional and pain-related parameters remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze the thermal profile of the lumbar region in elderly individuals with CLBP and explore potential correlations between lumbar temperature patterns and clinical factors such as pain intensity and functional capacity. : A cross-sectional observational study was performed in an outpatient setting. The population included thirty-one elderly individuals diagnosed with CLBP. IRT was used to assess the lumbar temperature distribution, including participants who reported pain radiating to the lower limbs. Pain intensity was measured using a numerical rating scale (0-10). The functional assessments included spine mobility tests and validated questionnaires evaluating clinical characteristics. : No significant differences in lumbar temperature patterns were observed among the participants. Additionally, no correlation was found between pain intensity and functional capacity based on a thermographic analysis. Nonetheless, individuals reporting lower fatigue levels and those with a higher body mass index (BMI) were generally associated with cooler thermal readings on the lumbar region's thermographic maps. : These findings suggest that IRT may require methodological refinements, including optimized technical specifications and image acquisition protocols, to enhance its applicability in assessing CLBP. Indeed, IRT might not be the most effective tool for evaluating pain-related thermal changes in elderly populations. Further research is needed to clarify its role in clinical assessments.
慢性下腰痛（CLBP）是一种普遍存在的疾病，对老年人群有重大影响。在非侵入性评估工具中，红外热成像（IRT）被视为一种无辐射的方法，用于评估腰椎区域的热变化。然而，其在临床实践中的适用性以及与功能和疼痛相关参数的相关性仍不明确。本研究旨在分析患有CLBP的老年人腰椎区域的热分布，并探讨腰椎温度模式与疼痛强度和功能能力等临床因素之间的潜在相关性。
在门诊环境中进行了一项横断面观察性研究。研究对象包括31名被诊断为CLBP的老年人。IRT用于评估腰椎温度分布，包括报告有下肢放射痛的参与者。使用数字评分量表（0-10）测量疼痛强度。功能评估包括脊柱活动度测试和评估临床特征的有效问卷。
参与者之间未观察到腰椎温度模式的显著差异。此外，基于热成像分析，未发现疼痛强度与功能能力之间存在相关性。尽管如此，报告疲劳程度较低的个体和体重指数（BMI）较高的个体，在腰椎区域热成像图上的温度读数通常较低。
这些发现表明，IRT可能需要方法上的改进，包括优化技术规格和图像采集协议，以提高其在评估CLBP中的适用性。实际上，IRT可能不是评估老年人群疼痛相关热变化的最有效工具。需要进一步研究以阐明其在临床评估中的作用。
