Effect of spinal cord injury on the skin temperature of different regions of interest during a graded exercise test in a moderate temperature environment

The gradient between core and skin temperature is a relevant factor in heat exchange between the human body and the environment, but people with spinal cord injury (SCI), due to their autonomic dysfunction, have impaired mechanisms that condition skin temperature response. This study aimed to determine how SCI affects skin temperature response in different ROIs during a graded exercise test in a moderate temperature environment. 32 participants were included in the study [SCI (N = 16); Non-SCI (N = 16)]. A graded exercise test was conducted on an arm crank ergometer, with a staged duration of 3 min separated by 1 min of rest. Skin temperature was measured using infrared thermography at rest, after each interval and during recovery. Individuals with SCI exhibited lower skin temperature in the anterior leg during exercise than Non-SCI (p < 0.001). During recovery, SCI athletes experienced a lower skin temperature restoration in the anterior arm, posterior arm and anterior leg (p < 0.05). The anterior leg is an interesting region to measure during exercise in people with SCI for assessing the physiological effect of the injury, probably for the autonomic dysfunction in skin temperature regulation, but the effect observed during recovery in the arms suggests the presence of different mechanisms involved in skin temperature regulation.