Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Athletic Training

First Advisor

Mitchell L. Cordova

Second Advisor

Timothy J. Demchak

Third Advisor

Jody B. Brucker

Abstract

Context: Intramuscular temperatures are commonly recorded with the use of implantable thermocouples. Currently, there are 2 techniques of inserting intramuscular thermocouples, a traditional technique, which inserts the thermocouple with a sterile hypodermic needle, then retracts the needle, and a catheter-assisted technique, which uses a spring-loaded catheter to insert the catheter then a thermocouple is fed through the catheter to target position. Objective: The purpose of this study was first to investigate whether or not target position is obtained with either insertion method. A second purpose of this study was to quantify the amount of movement that occurs after exercise. Lastly, this study attempted to determine how caliper and MRI superficial tissue measurements correlate. Design: A 2 x 2 factorial design with repeated measures design, guided this study. The independent variables for this study were insertion technique and time. The dependent variables were X, Y, and Z coordinate position of thermocouples (mm), skinfold thickness as established by a skin caliper (mm) and skinfold thickness as revealed by MRI (mm). Setting: This study took place in the Sports Injury Research Laboratory at Indiana State University and at an MRI facility. Subjects: Both legs of3 physically active college aged (18 to 28 yrs) male volunteers participated in this study. In each of the subjects legs 2 thermocouples were inserted, allowing for a total sample of 12 to be used for this study. Interventions: Subjects were given prophylactic antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection. Thermocouples were inserted into the medial portion of the triceps surae muscle belly 1. 5 em superior and inferior to the triceps surae' s greatest IV girth, to a depth of30 mm below the adipose tissue. MRI scans were taken of each thermocouple prior to an exercise bout of calf raises. A second set ofMRI scans were taken to verify thermocouple tip position in the X, Y, and Z coordinate system following the exercise bout. Main Outcome Measures: The 5 dependent variables measured were: X, Y, Z coordinate position of thermocouples (mm) before and after exercise, skinfold thickness as measured by skin caliper (mm), and MRI (mm). Results: There were no multivariant effects on linear conditions of the 3 variables. Additionally, there were no interactions between time and technique in any ofthe 3 coordinate plane positions (X, Y, Z). Time had an effect on X coordinate plane position only (Ft, s = 24.47, P = 0.004, 1-~ = 0.97, Eta2 = 0.83). Technique used only had a\effect on theY coordinate plane position (F1, 5 =10.34, P = 0.024, 1-~ = 0.73, Eta2 = 0.67). There were no effects of thermocouple positioning in the Z coordinate plane. There was a significant difference between actual thermocouple depth attained and the theoretical thermocouple depth that was to be attained (T 11, P = 0. 04). There was not a strong correlation between MRI and caliper superficial tissue measurements (r = 0.56, P =0.25). Conclusions: This study is novel in that it is the first to attempt to analyze the exact position of a thermocouple in the 3 coordinate planes and to analyze the effect exercise has on its position. Exercise has an affect on thermocouple depj:h (X). The catheter-assisted technique provides greater stability to medial-lateral movement that the traditional technique. Neither time nor technique has an affect on superior-inferior thermocouple position. Thermocouples did not attain target depth. The caliper method is an adequate way to determine thermocouple depth.

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