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Publication
Thermographic differences due to dynamic work tasks on individuals with different obesity levels: a preliminary study
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Obesity has been identified as a potential risk factor for Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders
(WRMSD). However, literature shows that more studies are required about obesity effects on work
performance, including during lifting tasks. Infrared Thermography (IRT) has been emerged as an
alternative technique to study WRMSD risk factors. Therefore, the current study aims at testing whether
skin temperatures (Tskin) changes are sensitive to work conditions during lifting tasks. The second goal of
this work is to analyse possible differences in Tskin changes across individuals with different obesity levels.
By applying IRT imaging this study considered 29 participants with different obesity levels, for a repetitive
lifting task between floor and shoulders height with a periodicity of 7 seconds up to 2 minutes. Thermal
images were registered across 16 Regions Of Interest (ROI) (divided into body anterior and posterior
views). Data analysis was performed from the temperatures differential, calculated as the algebric
difference between Tskin measured before and after the task. This Tskin difference presented statistical
evidence (p < 0.05 for all ROI), with a decrease after the task. The average Tskin decrease of the 8 ROI for
anterior view was 0.33(±0.08)ºC and for posterior view was 0.51(±0.08)ºC, being an indicator of muscular
overload increased. Results show a relation between the obese participants and the presence of higher
cooling in the ROI studied, following the lifting task. These outcomes corroborate that obesity is
a WRMSD risk factor and also provides evidence that IRT can be a useful tool to assess the participants’
biomechanics performance.