Science of heat mapping: Thermography in musculoskeletal disorders

Figure 1 Representative images of the utilization of infrared thermography in various musculoskeletal pathologies are depicted. A: Infrared imaging of bilateral knees with localized hyper-radiation in the superolateral region of the left patella suggestive of quadriceps tendinopathy; B: Infrared imaging of bilateral lower limbs showing hyporadiant area on the lateral side of the thigh and posterolateral side of the right leg suggestive of lumbar radiculopathy; C: Infrared imaging of left knee showing hyper-radiant area embracing the inferior aspect of the patella with localized area of hyper-radiation on the medial aspect of the knee suggestive of knee synovitis (horseshoe sign) with overloading of medial collateral ligament; D: Infrared imaging of bilateral feet showing the breaking of the transverse lines of the feet distal thermal gradient with digital anisothermy, and the average temperature of feet sole > 33 °C suggestive of diabetic neuropathy; E: Infrared imaging of the right lower limb showing the area of diffuse hyporadiation throughout the leg and especially the foot suggestive of chronic complex regional pain syndrome.