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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Thermal Camera for Runners}}
Thermal cameras can be useful in detecting muscular and joint issues, especially as they have recently become much cheaper. The camera shows where the skin is warmer, indicating inflammation or muscle damage. It can allow you to detect problems early, target your [[Massage]] more effectively, and monitor injury treatment. I find my thermal camera is also valuable for [[CoolScuplting]] and [[Cryotherapy| Cryotherapy (icing for recovery)]].
=Thermal Camera Research=
Thermal cameras can reveal changes in skin temperature which reflect changes in blood flow due to inflammation and aid the diagnosis of several conditions<ref name="JiangNg2009"/>. For instance:
I use my thermal camera each morning after rising to evaluate muscular and joint health. It's important to let your skin adjust to the ambient temperature for 10-20 minutes. If you skin is in contact with fabric or furniture, that can skew the results. I use an extension cord so the camera is far enough away that I can view the images on my phone comfortably, and I take a photo each day for comparison. I'll use the images to track the progress of injuries, as the hotter areas indicate damage. I'll also use the images to target my [[Massage]], focusing on muscles that are hotter. After a run I'll use the camera to check for imbalances or changes in which muscle groups are activated (hotter).
=Which Camera?=
I've used both the FLIR ONE (<jfs id="B00VILVV62" noreferb="true"/>) and the Seek Thermal XR (<jfs id="B00SSZ5KPY" noreferb="true"/>) and I prefer the FLIR, but both have their advantages. The Seek is available for Android as <jfs id=" B00NYWAHHM" noreferb="true"/>, and there is an Android version of FLIR <jfs id=" B00W5PRY52" noreferb="true"/>.
* The FLIR uses their patented MSX which uses a visual camera to create an outline image that's then merged with the thermal image. I found that this made the FLIR rather more useful and easier to interpret than the Seek and was a major factor for me. The MSX approach doesn't work so well for close up images, but I've not found that to be too much of an issue.
* The FLIR has a wider angle of view than the Seek, which makes it easier to use. The Seek is only 20 degrees, which for photographers is about a 120mm lens on a 35mm camera. For non-photographers, it's annoyingly narrow. (There is a non-XR Seek camera with a 36 degree view as <jfs id="B00NYWABAA" noreferb="true"/>.)
