Use of telethermography in the management of sports injuries.

Abstract

Telethermography can contribute to the diagnostic process in the management of sports injuries by clearly demonstrating thermal alterations in the tissues involved. Although there are no typical images, in general hyperthermic images are found when inflammatory reactions prevail, and hypothermic pictures when compression or degenerative processes are present. Telethermography is not only an aid to diagnosis, it also appears to be an ideal tool in controlling the injury evolution and treatment efficacy. In fact this objective method of evaluation is noninvasive, innocuous and repeatable, and well-related to the clinical and functional status.