• da Silva Alves R
• Iunes DH
• Pereira IC
• Borges JBC
• Prado Mariano KO
• Carvalho LC

• Affiliation / Federal University of Alfenas. Physical Therapy
• Affiliation(G) / Brazil / Minas Gerais / Alfenas
• Drug Therapy
• Neoplasms
• Open Access Document
• Postural Balance
• Thermography

Objective: To correlate the potential of the stabilometric parameters of baropodometry with the superficial temperature of the legs of cancer patients during and after treatment.

Method: This study included 30 volunteers of both sexes, divided into the following groups: chemotherapy–radiotherapy group (CRG) (n = 15; age = 57.13 ± 16.74 years) and cancer group without current treatment (n = 15; age = 63.29 ± 7.34 years). They were assessed for superficial temperature of the legs using infrared thermography with anterior and posterior views. Assessment of postural balance was conducted using a baropodometer in 2 conditions—participants’ open eyes and closed eyes—to obtain the center of pressure (COP) of anteroposterior displacement, COP of mediolateral displacement, and COP of displacement area.

Results: When their eyes were open, the CRG participants presented a high correlation between the displacement of the ML and the surface anterior temperature of both legs (right: r = 0.578, P = .030; left: r = 0.619, P = .018) and posterior region of the right leg (r = 0.571; P = .033), and they presented a high correlation between COP with anterior surface temperature of both legs (right: r = 0.585, P = .028; left: r = 0.540, P = .046). When patients’ eyes were closed, no correlation was found between the thermography and the stabilometric parameters evaluated.

Conclusion: During the chemotherapy-radiotherapy, cancer patients present ML and COP displacement that correlates with infrared thermography evaluation when their eyes are open.

Author keywords: Neoplasms; Thermography; Postural Balance; Rehabilitation

Author affiliations: Physical Therapy, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil

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