David J. BenEliyahu, DC
Abstract: Thermography has emerged as a valuable diagnostic too in sports medicine and musculoskeletal disorders. Thermography not only helps confirm a diagnosis, but can be used as a gauge to clinically assess progress and treatment response, as well as a prognostic indicator. Since thermography is noninvasive, risk-free, and relatively portable, it is a practical tool in the clinical setting. Thermographic imaging is useful for, but not limited to, the diagnosis and evolution of epicondylitis, patellofemoral syndromes, ankle injures, shin splints, stress fractures, myofascial pain syndromes, spinal pain syndromes, shoulder injures, and foot pain syndromes. Thermography is also a very sensitive test in the detection of sympathetic maintained pain, and reflex sympathetic dysfunction which can occur after minimal injury. Presented is a literature review with clinical case reports on the use of thermography in the diagnosis and clinical management of sports injuries.