| Abstrakt: |
Introduction: Infrared thermography has the potential to help assess human head and neck muscles, as thermal variation measurements due to muscle imbalance can contribute to the evaluation and therapeutic follow-up of various clinical conditions in the field of health. Objective: This study investigated, with a scoping review, the use of infrared thermography in complementary assessments of human head and neck muscles. Data synthesis: This review identified and analyzed 27 articles. The studies assessed thermal distribution in normal individuals and those with pathologies related to hyper- and hypofunctional head and neck muscle conditions for diagnosis or therapeutic follow-up. The masseter, temporal, digastric, anterior cervical region, orbicularis oris, frontalis, buccinator, suprahyoid, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, and levator scapulae muscles were assessed. Quantitative analyses with area selection tool predominated, considering absolute temperatures and temperature differences. The studies investigated temperature and its relationship with myogenic pain, quantitative assessment of muscle parameters, and blood flow velocity. The mean temperature ranged from 32.97 °C (±2.21) to 34.90 °C, and hyper-radiant and/or asymmetric regions were observed in hyperfunctional conditions and normal subjects after muscle activation. These results point to a possible use of thermography to monitor musculoskeletal tension dysphonia or the relationship between thermal distribution and vocal fatigue. Conclusion: Thermography is used in complementary assessments of head and neck muscles, identifying hyper-radiant regions and thermal asymmetry related to muscle tension and activation state. Papers are limited to specific clinical conditions and few muscle groups, besides having great methodological variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
