Abstract
PROBLEM AND MOTIVATION: The human body dissipates 60 % of its heat by emitting infrared radiation, it can be studied using Infrared Thermography (IRT). IRT images serve as thermal maps of the body, useful in medical applications to investigate the physiopathological of diseases that present symptoms such as swelling, pain, infection, rash, and increased local skin temperature. AIM: To design a protocol to capture IRT images before and after physical activity. The protocol collects skin temperature data of the entire body, in the frontal (anterior and posterior) and sagittal (right and left) planes. METHODOLOGY: The protocol was designed considering clinical, environmental, and technical factors and ensuring its reproducibility in both healthy and pathological populations. Thermographic images were acquired both at rest and after thermal stress (modified Bruce test). In addition, questionnaires were prepared to collect and store information on demographic data, core temperature, environmental conditions, pain perception, and level of physical activity. RESULTS: The protocol combines the acquisition of IRT images with the application of the modified Bruce protocol on a treadmill as a thermal stress generator. FURTHER IMPACT: This protocol offers a valuable tool for studying the thermoregulatory capacity of the human body in the presence of different medical conditions.