OAR@UM Collection:

In-shoe foot temperature patterns during lying, sitting and standing postures : baseline data from healthy individuals

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: In-shoe foot temperature patterns during lying, sitting and standing postures : baseline data from healthy individuals Authors: Mizzi, Stephen; Mifsud, Tiziana; Mizzi, Anabelle; Borg, Mark; Farrugia, Robert; Falzon, Owen Abstract: This study aimed to establish normative in-shoe plantar foot temperature patterns across three static postures—lying, sitting, and standing—in healthy individuals, providing a clinically relevant baseline for interpreting in-shoe thermograms in diabetic or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) populations. A single-center prospective study included 20 healthy adults (40 limbs; 22–74 years) who underwent vascular and neurological screening prior to data collection. Plantar temperature was continuously recorded using Tarsos® Smart Insoles with 21 embedded sensors per foot during three consecutive 10 min phases: supine, sitting, and standing. Data were analyzed for regional differences across the toes, metatarsals, arch, and heel using statistical and visual methods. Distinct posture-related temperature patterns were observed. The arch consistently exhibited the highest temperatures, while the toes remained cooler across all phases. Supine positioning resulted in relatively uniform temperature increases, whereas sitting and standing demonstrated more-stable but region-specific patterns, with slower rates of temperature change and more pronounced regional variation. Compared with barefoot thermography, the in-shoe condition showed greater heat retention and reduced evaporative cooling, highlighting the importance of context-specific baseline data. These findings demonstrate the influence of posture on plantar thermal distribution in the in-shoe environment and support the use of embedded monitoring systems for continuous assessment where surface thermography is not feasible.

An investigation of thermal patterns in guitarists performing a musician-specific exercise program

2024-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An investigation of thermal patterns in guitarists performing a musician-specific exercise program Authors: Farrugia, Robert; Falzon, Owen; Pace, Josef Abstract: Several musicians suffer from musculoskeletal problems during their career. These injuries are referred to as performance-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs). Through the use of exercise programs, PRMDs can be prevented. Exercise programs aim to strengthen musicians' upper limbs and supporting muscles, which can correct and improve postural control during performance and thereby prevent PRMDs. In this study, a musician-specific exercise program was carried out by guitarists. Thermal imaging was used to observe and monitor the effect of the program. Thermal data was collected from 14 guitarists who played their instrument for at least 7 hours a week. Data was gathered from the trapezius, shoulder, upper arm, forearm, wrist, and digits for a period of 20 minutes whilst the guitarists were playing. The participants followed the exercise program throughout a period of 6 weeks, after which the process of thermal data collection was performed again. While existing studies that evaluate musicians through thermal imaging mostly observe thermal asymmetries, in this work we also looked at absolute and relative temperature changes over time, both before and after the exercise program. The results show that one of the main and most consistent effects of the musician-specific exercise program was the reduction of thermal asymmetries within the shoulder region. This is indicative that the musician-specific exercise might be beneficial to avoid or reduce the effect of PRMDs in guitarists.

Steady-state visual evoked potentials for EEG-based biometric identification

2017-09-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Steady-state visual evoked potentials for EEG-based biometric identification Authors: Piciucco, Emanuela; Maiorana, Emanuele; Falzon, Owen; Camilleri, Kenneth P.; Campisi, Patrizio Abstract: In this paper we propose a biometric recognition system based on steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEPs), exploiting brain signals elicited by repetitive stimuli having a constant frequency as identifiers. EEG responses to SSVEP stimuli flickering at different frequencies are recorded, and both mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) and autoregressive (AR) reflection coefficients are used as discriminative features of the enrolled users. An analysis of the permanence across time of the brain response to SSVEP stimuli is also performed, by exploiting EEG data acquired in sessions disjoint in time. The employed database is composed by EEG recordings taken from 25 healthy subjects during two different sessions with 15 day average distance between them. The results show that good recognition performance and a high level of permanence can be reached exploiting the proposed method.

Thermography to assess success of lower limb endovascular revascularisation in diabetics with critical ischaemia

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Thermography to assess success of lower limb endovascular revascularisation in diabetics with critical ischaemia Authors: Kevin, Cassar; Falzon, Owen; Sturgeon, Cassandra Abstract: Introduction - The success of endovascular revascularisation of the lower limbs for critical ischaemia needs to be assessed in order to determine whether further intervention such as open bypass surgery or further endovascular treatment is required. Assessment of success is currently based on completion radiological images or physiological testing such as ABPIs or toe pressures. These tools have significant limitations particularly in diabetics. The aim of this study was to assess whether infrared thermography could be used to assess the success of endovascular revascularisation and to compare this with currently used physiological tools. Methods - Diabetic subjects undergoing endovascular revascularisation for critical ischaemia at a vascular unit were recruited. The ABPI, Toe brachial pressure index, spectral waveforms and pulsatility index were measured before endovacular revascularisation, at 24 hours after intervention and 6 weeks after revascularisation. Radiological images were also assessed. Infrared thermography of the shins, heels and plantar aspect of the feet was performed using a FLIR e-series handheld camera before, 24 hours and 6 weeks after intervention and images analysed using FLIR software. Results - 40 consecutive diabetic subjects (19 F: 21 M) undergoing endovascular revascularisation were recruited with a median age of 76 years. 19 (47.5%) had gangrene, 27 (67.5%) active ulceration and 20 (50%) rest pain. 39 subjects underwent successful revascularisation (superficial femoral, popliteal, calf artery angioplasty/stenting) while 1 procedure was unsuccessful. ABPI could only be recorded in 22 (55%) subjects due to either an absent signal or incompressible arteries and in some of these the ABPI was artefactually elevated (>1.3). Toe pressures could only be recorded in 18 (45%) subjects due to undetectable signals or missing or gangrenous/ulcerated toes. Thermography could be performed on all subjects. There was a significant increase in temperature in the treated limb between baseline and 24 hours after at the shin (p=0.008), heel (p=0.009) and plantar mid foot (p<0.0001) and at 6 weeks in the same three sites(p=0.045; p=0.006; p=0.056 respectively). There was no significant change in temperature in the untreated limb at any point.; Conclusion - ABPIs and toe pressures often cannot be used particularly in diabetics with critical ischaemia due to undetectable signals, incompressible arteries or absent or gangrenous digits. Even when these tools can be used their ability to determine success of endovascular intervention is poor. Thermography is a non invasive, no contact, easily applicable technique which can be applied consistently in all subjects and which was shown to identify success of treatment through significant increases in temperature in the treated limb.