Estudo do mapeamento térmico das mãos para o auxílio ao diagnóstico da LER.

Abstract

The repetitive strain injury (RSI) is one of the greatest challenges faced by the working class around the world because it causes pain, difficulty in carrying out work-related tasks, long periods of absence and disability of the workforce. The structures of the upper extremities are particularly vulnerable to this type of injury. Thus, the general objective of this work was to perform a thermal study of the hands using thermography to assist in the RSI’s diagnosis. The sample consisted of 21 volunteers, 11 male and 10 female, undergraduate and graduate students from the Federal University of Campina Grande. A test bench was built in order to isolate the region of study and minimize the effect of the ambient radiation on the result of the thermograms. The volunteers were previously advised on the procedures to be followed on the day of the test. At the time of the test, volunteers were instructed to remove any adornment in the study region, not rub or touch their hands on each other or on any surface, and remain in a sitting position for a time set by protocol at rest in a room with controlled environment. Thermal images were collected from the anterior and posterior views of the hands. The images were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. Quantitative analysis showed a marked state of thermal equilibrium for the contralateral regions of interest. The dominant limb had a higher average temperature than its corresponding side. The gender was not a determining factor for evaluation of the thermal patterns of the hands. It is concluded that the measurement of the skin surface temperature of the hands using the thermography technique was feasible and reproducible, and it is recommended to create specific reference tables to establish the normal conditions for each body segment.