{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T04:46:44Z","timestamp":1785732404935,"version":"3.56.0"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1785715200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Physiol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To investigate the dynamic changes in lumbar-back temperature associated with low back pain (LBP) during the training period of professional drivers and its influencing factors, analyze the correlations of infrared thermal imaging parameters with lumbar muscle endurance and LBP symptoms.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A longitudinal follow-up study was conducted involving 135 male truck driving trainees from a driving school. The follow-up period spanned four months, with four assessment points (T1-T4). Ultimately, 132 trainees (18\u201330 years; mean 22.6 \u00b1 2.2 years) completed the full follow-up (effective rate: 97.8%). Infrared thermography was employed to measure mean lumbar-dorsal temperature, temperature gradients, Cumulative Heat Alteration (CHA) and Jumpwise Unevenness Estimation (JUE) in the lower back. Concurrently, lumbar muscle endurance tests and physical measurements were conducted, while low back pain symptoms and functional impact were assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA, Pearson\/Spearman correlation analysis, and multivariate linear regression, with a significance level of \u03b1=0.05.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>During training, the average lumbar-dorsal temperature initially increased gradually, then stabilized, before showing a marked decrease in the final phase; The lumbar temperature gradient continued to expand, with both group and individual temperature heterogeneity significantly increasing by the training\u2019s conclusion (P&amp;lt;0.001). Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between lumbar muscle endurance test duration and both CHA scores (R\u00a0=\u00a00.2, P\u00a0=\u00a00.02) and JUE scores (R\u00a0=\u00a00.25, P\u00a0=\u00a00.004). After adjusting for confounding factors such as Body Mass Index (BMI), regular physical exercise and muscle percentage, lumbar muscle endurance was the only statistically significant independent factor affecting CHA (P\u00a0=\u00a00.033) and JUE (P\u00a0=\u00a00.015). BMI showed a marginal correlation (0.05&amp;lt;P&amp;lt;0.2), and other variables had no independent statistical association.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>During professional driver training, characteristic dynamic changes occur in lumbar-back temperature, and these changes are independently associated with lower back muscle endurance. These metrics provide a non-invasive reference for exploring the relationship between lumbar muscle function and LBP. Targeted lumbar endurance training combined with appropriate BMI management can support lumbar health protection for professional drivers and some sedentary populations.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2026.1803242","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T04:26:29Z","timestamp":1785731189000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Association between dynamic changes in lumbar back temperature during professional driver training and lumbar muscle endurance: a longitudinal study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Xiaolong","family":"Sang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Li","family":"Yi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Naval Medical Center","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuhan","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zhibo","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chaoyue","family":"Sun","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xin","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Naval Medical Center","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wei","family":"Gu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naval Medical University","place":["Shanghai, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15111317","article-title":"Lumbar temperature map of elderly individuals with chronic low back pain-an infrared thermographic analysis","volume":"15","author":"Albuquerque","year":"2025","journal-title":"Diagnostics (Basel)"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7736","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-023-34733-4","article-title":"Association of accelerometer-measured physical activity, back static muscular endurance and abdominal obesity with radicular pain and non-specific low back pain","volume":"13","author":"Bayartai","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"7116","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-025-91076-y","article-title":"Effects of balance and hamstring training on nonspecific low back pain: A randomized controlled trial","volume":"15","author":"Chen","year":"2025","journal-title":"Sci. Rep."},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.3233\/BMR-2012-0320","article-title":"Trunk muscles strength and endurance in chronic low back pain patients with and without clinical instability","volume":"25","author":"Davarian","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Back Musculoskelet. Rehabil."},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk6020037","article-title":"Efficacy of core stability in non-specific chronic low back pain","volume":"6","author":"Frizziero","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol."},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1007\/s00586-019-06279-5","article-title":"Low back pain: critical assessment of various scales","volume":"29","author":"Garg","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. Spine J."},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2025.1672010","article-title":"Effects of different types of core training on pain and functional status in patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"16","author":"Guo","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front. Physiol"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2356","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(18)30480-X","article-title":"What low back pain is and why we need to pay attention","volume":"391","author":"Hartvigsen","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1145","DOI":"10.3233\/WOR-205178","article-title":"Effect of a 6-month sedentary behavior reduction intervention on well-being and workplace health in desk workers with low back pain","volume":"71","author":"Hergenroeder","year":"2022","journal-title":"Work"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1186\/s13018-024-04999-z","article-title":"Prevalence of and risk factors for low back pain among professional drivers: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"19","author":"Jia","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Orthop. Surg. Res."},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/1348-9585.12150","article-title":"Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among professional drivers: A systematic review","volume":"62","author":"Joseph","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Occup. Health"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/1348-9585.12170","article-title":"Editorial: Prevention of musculoskeletal pain among professional drivers","volume":"62","author":"Lu","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Occup. Health"},{"key":"B13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph192013413","article-title":"Pain in the cervical and lumbar spine as a result of high G-force values in military pilots-a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"19","author":"Mastalerz","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7759\/cureus.28980","article-title":"Use of infrared thermal imaging for assessing acute inflammatory changes: A case series","volume":"14","author":"Ramirez-GarciaLuna","year":"2022","journal-title":"Cureus"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2741","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-025-05917-9","article-title":"Turning up the heat on skeletal muscle adaptations and neuromuscular function: key considerations for passive heating prescription and best practices","volume":"125","author":"Rodrigues","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur. J. Appl. Physiol."},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jtherbio.2025.104132","article-title":"Effects of exercise intensity on skin temperature and muscle oxygen saturation in the thigh during and after strength resistance training","volume":"130","author":"Vasquez-Bonilla","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Therm. Biol."},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jshs.2024.100989","article-title":"Are changes in pain intensity related to changes in balance control in individuals with chronic non-specific low back pain? A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"14","author":"Zheng","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Sport Health Sci."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Physiology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fphys.2026.1803242\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]],"date-time":"2026-08-03T04:26:30Z","timestamp":1785731190000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fphys.2026.1803242\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"references-count":17,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fphys.2026.1803242"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fphys.2026.1803242","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-042X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-042X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,3]]},"article-number":"1803242"}}