Facial Temperature Recovery After Ice Therapy: A Comparative Study Based on Thermography Evaluation

Thermography is a non-radiating and contact-free technology which can be used to monitor skin temperature. The efficiency and safety of thermography technology make it a useful tool for detecting and locating thermal changes in skin surface, characterized by increases or decreases in temperature. This work intends to be a contribution for the use of thermography as a methodology for evaluation of skin temperature in the context of orofacial biomechanics. The study aims to identify the oscillations of skin temperature in hemiface’s region of the masseter muscle and estimate the time required to restore the initial temperature after the application of an ice stimulus. Using an infrared camera, a data acquisition protocol was followed with a group of volunteers in a controlled environment. The thermal stimulus involves the use of an ice volume and the skin surface temperature was recorded in two distinct situations, namely without further stimulus and with the addition of a complementary stimulus obtained by a chewing gum. The results shows that recovery is faster with the addition of the stimulus and may guide clinicians regarding the pre and post-operative times with ice therapy, in the presence or absence of mechanical stimulus that increase muscle functions.