{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T19:29:03Z","timestamp":1775071743760,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,23]],"date-time":"2025-05-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1747958400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) of Portugal","award":["LAETA UIDB\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LAETA UIDB\/50022\/2020"]}]},{"name":"Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) of Portugal","award":["UIDP\/50022\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDP\/50022\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent condition that significantly impacts the aging population. Among non-invasive assessment tools, infrared thermography (IRT) has been highlighted as a radiation-free method to evaluate thermal variations in the lumbar region. However, its applicability in clinical practice and correlation with functional and pain-related parameters remain unclear. This study aimed to analyze the thermal profile of the lumbar region in elderly individuals with CLBP and explore potential correlations between lumbar temperature patterns and clinical factors such as pain intensity and functional capacity. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed in an outpatient setting. The population included thirty-one elderly individuals diagnosed with CLBP. IRT was used to assess the lumbar temperature distribution, including participants who reported pain radiating to the lower limbs. Pain intensity was measured using a numerical rating scale (0\u201310). The functional assessments included spine mobility tests and validated questionnaires evaluating clinical characteristics. Results: No significant differences in lumbar temperature patterns were observed among the participants. Additionally, no correlation was found between pain intensity and functional capacity based on a thermographic analysis. Nonetheless, individuals reporting lower fatigue levels and those with a higher body mass index (BMI) were generally associated with cooler thermal readings on the lumbar region\u2019s thermographic maps. Conclusions: These findings suggest that IRT may require methodological refinements, including optimized technical specifications and image acquisition protocols, to enhance its applicability in assessing CLBP. Indeed, IRT might not be the most effective tool for evaluating pain-related thermal changes in elderly populations. Further research is needed to clarify its role in clinical assessments.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15111317","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,23]],"date-time":"2025-05-23T12:24:18Z","timestamp":1748003058000},"page":"1317","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Lumbar Temperature Map of Elderly Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain\u2014An Infrared Thermographic Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6695-2181","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nelson","family":"Albuquerque","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Liliana","family":"Gon\u00e7alves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Termalistur, Termas de S\u00e3o Pedro do Sul, 3660-692 V\u00e1rzea, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Wally","family":"Strasse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Federal University of Technology, Curitiba 81.030-001, Paran\u00e1, Brazil"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4254-1879","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joaquim","family":"Gabriel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9276-3683","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laetitia","family":"Teixeira","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8822-7714","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pedro","family":"Cantista","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"636","DOI":"10.1007\/s10926-023-10124-4","article-title":"Systematic Review to Inform a World Health Organization (WHO) Clinical Practice Guideline: Benefits and Harms of Structured Exercise Programs for Chronic Primary Low Back Pain in Adults","volume":"33","author":"Verville","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. 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