A group of researchers from the International Academic Network of the Ibero-American University Foundation (FUNIBER) is participating in an international study on the use of infrared thermography to assess fatigue, injury risk factors, and recovery in soccer players.
Among the researchers are Dr. Álvaro Velarde Sotres, international director of FUNIBER’s Sports Division, coordinator of the Doctoral Program in Physical Activity and Sports: Risks and Benefits, and professor and researcher at the European University of the Atlantic (UNEATLANTICO); Yehinson Barajas Ramón, a doctoral researcher in the same program at UNEATLANTICO; and José Luaces Carreño, director of the Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and Sports at the University of La Romana (UNIROMANA).
The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Physiology, a prestigious international scientific journal ranked in the Q1 quartile in the physiology category. The research examines the use of infrared thermography, a technology that allows for remote observation of body surface temperature. The objective was to determine to what extent this tool can help identify signs of fatigue, detect differences between various muscle areas, and monitor players’ recovery.
Fatigue: A Challenge for Soccer Players
Professional soccer places increasingly high demands on athletes. Schedules can pack several matches into just a few days, leaving little time for the body to recover. This situation can lead to accumulated fatigue that affects performance and increases the risk of injury.
After a match, muscles need time to return to their normal state. Therefore, understanding how the body responds to exertion can help sports teams decide when to increase or decrease training intensity and which recovery strategies may be most appropriate for each player.
The post-match period is especially important. During the first 72 hours after a match, some effects of exertion may persist, so having tools to monitor recovery can help prevent problems before they arise.
Technology for Monitoring an Athlete’s Condition
Various technologies are used to monitor exertion and recovery, such as GPS devices and accelerometers, which track distances covered and changes in speed during a game. Other tools analyze movement during jumps or assess how muscles respond.
However, there is a growing interest in finding methods that are quick, simple, and can be used repeatedly without interfering with the athlete’s activity. In this context, infrared thermography offers a noninvasive and rapid alternative. Using specialized cameras, this technology records skin temperature, and changes in skin temperature can provide information about the body’s response to exercise.
Three Potential Applications in Soccer
This study analyzed the available evidence in soccer players. The results show that infrared thermography can be useful for obtaining information about soccer players’ physical condition at different times.
The first is the assessment of fatigue, based on temperature changes that may occur after practices and matches. Observing these changes can help determine how the muscles have responded to exercise.
The second is the identification of potential signs of injury risk. Temperature differences between the two sides of the body or between different muscle areas can help detect overuse or insufficient recovery.
The third involves monitoring recovery. Measurements taken during the hours and days following exercise allow for observation of temperature trends and its gradual return to normal levels.
Toward a More Personalized Recovery
The studies analyzed used different measurement conditions, body regions, and equipment; therefore, the authors consider it necessary to establish more uniform protocols. Despite these differences, the results show that thermography can detect changes in skin temperature related to exercise and recovery.
The authors suggest that thermal differences that remain outside normal ranges can serve as a signal to review the training load and assess the athlete’s condition in greater detail. The technique does not replace other tools or professional assessments but can complement the information obtained through other methods.
If you’d like to learn more about this study, click here.
To read more research, check out the UNEATLANTICO repository.
For professionals interested in delving deeper into this field, FUNIBER offers scholarships to study the Master’s in Sports Performance: Training and Functional Assessment or the Coach/sports Trainign. These programs address aspects related to athlete assessment, monitoring training loads, and planning and implementing strategies aimed at improving performance and promoting injury prevention.
