Respuesta térmica de la piel mediante termografía infrarroja en juegos reducidos de futbolistas: estudio piloto

Introduction: Football is characterised by intermittent high-intensity actions interspersed with recovery phases. Monitoring training load is essential to optimize performance and prevent injuries. In this context, infrared thermography serves as a valuable tool for detecting thermal alterations related to physical exertion. Objective: To analyze the skin temperature response of football players during small-sided games. Methodology: A quantitative study with repeated measures in a single group was conducted. Mean skin temperature was recorded at three time points: before the 4x4 game (pre), immediately after (post), and after 10 minutes (final). Forty-eight male football players participated (24 ± 1 years; 176.7 ± 0.6 cm; 72.5 ± 3.5 kg; 12.6 ± 1.0% body fat). Results: Significant variations were observed in lower-limb temperature across the measurement moments, with increases following exercise and decreases during recovery. The greatest changes occurred in the posterior and left legs (p < .001; ES = 0.4–0.8). In the upper limbs, significant differences were also noted, with reductions post-exercise and increases during the final phase, particularly in the anterior arms (p < .001; ES = 0.7–0.9). The most marked thermal asymmetries were found in the posterior thigh and, to a lesser extent, in the anterior leg (p < .05). The left posterior arm showed a significant post-exercise temperature rise with a moderate effect size (ES = 0.69). Conclusion: Skin temperature varied according to the phase of play, demonstrating distinct thermal responses and indicating potential areas of muscular overload.