Acute Effects of Futsal Training on Lower-Limb Skin Temperature, Morphometry, Vital Signs, and SpO2 in Professional Players

Futsal is a high-intensity, intermittent team sport that places substantial physiological demands on the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems. This study aimed to analyze acute changes in hemodynamic variables, anthropometric circumferences, and lower-limb skin temperature following an indoor futsal training session in elite players competing at national and international levels. A prospective, observational, pre–post repeated-measures study was conducted in 13 healthy professional futsal players competing at the highest level of Spanish futsal, including athletes competing at both national and international levels. The following variables were assessed sequentially before and after a futsal training session: systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, lower-limb circumferences, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and skin temperature measured using infrared thermography. Following the training session, increases were observed in all measured lower-limb circumferences, except for the left thigh. Systolic blood pressure significantly increased after training (p = 0.002; ES = 1.11), whereas diastolic blood pressure showed a small, non-significant increase (p = 0.221; ES = 0.36). Significant bilateral differences were observed post-training in only tibialis anterior muscles, with lower temperatures on the right side. Skin temperature decreased consistently across all evaluated muscle groups following the training session (p < 0.05). Additionally, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) significantly decreased after training (p = 0.001; ES = 1.00). A futsal training session elicits an acute, multidimensional physiological response characterized by increases in lower-limb circumference and systolic blood pressure, accompanied by reductions in skin temperature and peripheral oxygen saturation.