title: Reliability and validity of skin temperature measurement by telemetry thermistors and a thermal camera during exercise in the heat.
abstract: New technologies afford convenient modalities for skin temperature (TSKIN) measurement, notably involving wireless telemetry and non-contact infrared thermometry. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity and reliability of skin temperature measurements using a telemetry thermistor system (TT) and thermal camera (TC) during exercise in a hot environment. Each system was compared against a certified thermocouple, measuring the surface temperature of a metal block in a thermostatically controlled waterbath. Fourteen recreational athletes completed two incremental running tests, separated by one week. Skin temperatures were measured simultaneously with TT and TC compared against a hard-wired thermistor system (HW) throughout rest and exercise. Post hoc calibration based on waterbath results displayed good validity for TT (mean bias [MB]=-0.18 °C, typical error [TE]=0.18 °C) and reliability (MB=-0.05 °C, TE=0.31 °C) throughout rest and exercise. Poor validity (MB=-1.4 °C, TE=0.35 °C) and reliability (MB=-0.65 °C, TE=0.52 °C) was observed for TC, suggesting it may be best suited to controlled, static situations. These findings indicate TT systems provide a convenient, valid and reliable alternative to HW, useful for measurements in the field where traditional methods may be impractical.
authors.affiliation: Exercise in Extreme Environments Research Group, University of Brighton, Welkin House, Denton Road, Eastbourne BN20 7SN, United Kingdom. Electronic address: C.James2@brighton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Exercise in Extreme Environments Research Group, University of Brighton, Welkin House, Denton Road, Eastbourne BN20 7SN, United Kingdom. Electronic address: A.J.Richardson@brighton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.affiliation: Exercise in Extreme Environments Research Group, University of Brighton, Welkin House, Denton Road, Eastbourne BN20 7SN, United Kingdom. Electronic address: P.Watt@brighton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.affiliation: Exercise in Extreme Environments Research Group, University of Brighton, Welkin House, Denton Road, Eastbourne BN20 7SN, United Kingdom. Electronic address: N.Maxwell@brighton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Maxwell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013817:Thermography / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Exercise; Heat stress; Reliability; Skin temperature; Thermal camera; Validity