Šibanc et. al: PALM TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES ON PARALLEL BARS …………………Vol. 15, Issue 3: 349-366 
Science of Gymnastics Journal                                349                           Science of Gymnastics Journal 
 
 
TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES OF THE PALMS AFTER 
STATIC AND DYNAMIC LOAD IN SUPPORT ON PARALLEL 
BARS 
 
 
Karmen Šibanc
1
, Maja Pajek
1
, Ivan Čuk
1
, Igor Pušnik
2 
 
1 
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sport, Ljubljana, Slovenia 
2
 University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Ljubljana, Slovenia 
 
 
 
Original article                                                                         DOI: 10.52165/sgj.15.3.349-366 
Abstract 
In sports and exercise science, thermography is used extensively to evaluate athletic 
performance, to study exercise-induced superficial vascular changes, and to monitor injuries. 
There is a lack of research and literature on palm temperatures after different loads and our 
question was how palm temperature differs after static and dynamic loading on the parallel 
bars since the application is so varied (competitive and recreational sports, physical education, 
rehabilitation). Thirty-eight students from the Faculty of Sport at the University of Ljubljana 
were measured using a high-quality thermal imaging camera. Palm temperatures were 
measured before the load was applied, immediately after the load, and every 30 seconds for a 
period of 5 minutes after the load. Each hand was divided into nine different regions of interest 
(ROIs). Mean (XA), standard deviation (SD), maximum and minimum, and number of pixels 
were calculated. Our study showed that the temperature in the palm decreased immediately 
after the load, and then began to increase. Within 5 minutes, it reached higher values than 
before the application of the load, and after swings (dynamic load), the temperature values 
were higher than after support (static load). Different loads have different effects on the 
temperature of the hand. 
 
Keywords: palm temperature; thermal imaging; parallel bars; support; swing in support
INTRODUCTION 
 
 
Infrared thermal imaging has gained 
widespread acceptance as a non-destructive 
testing method and is increasingly utilized 
across various research and industrial 
sectors. Infrared thermography is employed 
for several purposes, including the detection 
of internal manufacturing defects in 
materials, measurement of thermophysical 
parameters in materials, identification of 
internal damage within structures and 
material strength, assessment of energy 
efficiency in buildings, detection of leaks in 
buildings and electrical systems, as well as 
applications in civil engineering, aerospace 
for energy conversion detection, stress 

Šibanc et. al: PALM TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES ON PARALLEL BARS …………………Vol. 15, Issue 3: 349-366 
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analysis, and healthcare (Qu, Jiang, and 
Zhang 2020). 
The human body's temperature is 
closely associated with health status, with 
the normal body temperature range being 
defined as a relatively narrow span, 
typically ranging from 36.1°C to 37.2°C at 
room temperature. Hyperthermia, albeit 
rarely hypothermia, serves as an indicator 
of an underlying medical condition or 
physical abnormality that necessitates 
medical attention (Kesztyüs, Brucher, and 
Kesztyüs 2022). 
The surface of the human body emits 
infrared radiation, which can be precisely 
measured within specific wavelengths 
using an infrared detector (Lahiri et al. 
2012). In the realm of sports and exercise 
science, where human health promotion is a 
key focus, thermography finds extensive 
application. It serves as a valuable tool for 
evaluating athletic performance, 
investigating exercise-induced superficial 
vascular changes, monitoring injuries, and 
striving to develop optimal training 
techniques and outcomes (Gómez-Carmona 
et al. 2020; Gulyaev et al. 1995; 
Hildebrandt, Raschner, and Ammer 2010; 
Kasprzyk‐Kucewicz et al. 2020; Kwon et al. 
2010; Martínez-Nova et al. 2021; Perpetuini 
et al. 2021; Sousa et al. 2017; Zontak et al. 
1998). 
Gymnastics, considered the oldest 
organized sport, involves gymnasts 
performing routines that consist of various 
elements and combinations in competitive 
settings. The duration of routines performed 
on parallel bars, rings, uneven bars, high 
bar, and pommel horse typically ranges 
from 20 to 50 seconds, with an average 
duration of around 30 seconds. Each 
element is initially defined by the gymnast's 
position on a piece of apparatus, followed 
by their touch or grip on that apparatus. 
Finally, an element is described by the 
movement that leads to the final position 
(Aarkaev and Suchilin 2004). 
Hand movements in gymnastics 
encompass two fundamental patterns: 
precision grip and power grip (Napier 
1956). These gripping techniques are also 
employed in various other sports and 
activities such as fitness, sport climbing, 
crossfit, and more. However, there is a 
notable lack of knowledge concerning the 
effects of palm loading on the temperature 
of the hand and palm, taking into 
consideration environmental temperature 
variations. 
In the context of a power grip, extrinsic 
muscles play a crucial role in generating 
movement and supplying the primary force 
required. In artistic gymnastics, where 
gymnasts' palms are exposed to frictional 
forces due to their interaction with the 
equipment, skin injuries can occur (Pušnik, 
Čuk, and Hadžič 2017; Zhang and Mak 
1999). 
One study (Zontak et al. 1998) 
demonstrated the influence of exercise on 
the skin temperature  where loading was 
steady and led to a constant decrease in 
finger temperature. Later, in a resting stage 
the hands rewarmed as a result of the 
dominance and balance of 
thermoregulatory reflexes and 
hemodynamics. Finger temperature 
consistently decreases with graded loading 
due to the continuous dominant 
vasoconstrictor response. This response 
aims to reduce inflammation and swelling. 
In cases of intensive exercise or 
rehabilitation, local cooling has been 
employed as a method to alleviate these 
effects. The study by Kwon et al. (2010) 
investigated the impact of hand cooling on 
fatigue during intensive bench pressing. 

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Surprisingly, there is a limited body of 
research that focuses on the application of 
load to the palm or the handling of objects 
at room temperature within a specific 
timeframe. One study, conducted by 
Bennett, Goubran, and Knoefel in 2015, 
examined hand temperature after five 
minutes of pressure application, noting an 
immediate cooling effect upon load 
application. 
Short-term loading effects on palm 
temperature were also explored in the 
context of different gymnastic ring shapes 
in a study by Pušnik et al. (2017). Following 
loading, variations in palm temperature 
decrease were observed, dependent on the 
specific ring shapes used. Additionally, the 
influence of magnesium carbonate on palm 
temperature was investigated during the 
execution of simple elements on uneven 
bars by Pušnik and Čuk in 2014. The study 
found that palm temperature increased 
when magnesium carbonate was used but 
remained constant when it was not. 
Further insights were gained through 
research by Šibanc et al. (2021) during 
static and dynamic load applications while 
hanging on a high bar. In these experiments, 
temperatures initially decreased after load 
application, then began to rise. Within five 
minutes of measurement, the temperatures 
exceeded the levels recorded before the load 
was applied. Interestingly, the decrease in 
temperature was more pronounced after 
static load as compared to dynamic load, 
and for both types of loads, temperatures 
increased above their initial baseline levels 
before load application. 
Support on the parallel bars is not only 
a basic element of artistic gymnastics, but it 
is also used in physiotherapy as an 
important tool for the rehabilitation process 
of patients with spinal cord injuries or acute 
strokes (Augustine and Nair 2021; Rowald 
et al. 2022; Shulga et al. 2020; Spiess, 
Steenbrink, and Esquenazi 2018). 
Furthermore, the parallel bars are versatile 
sports equipment that extends beyond 
competitive gymnastics. They serve as 
essential apparatus in home training, and 
also in recreational sports and physical 
education in schools (Kovač et al. 2011; 
Rasmussen 1971), where, according to the 
curriculum, children learn elements, such as 
hanging and supporting. 
There are some studies on the palm 
temperature during hanging, swinging in 
hanging and performing different elements 
on rings or parallel bars (Pušnik and Čuk 
2014; Pušnik et al. 2017; Šibanc et al. 
2021), but there is still a lack of studies on 
the palm temperature and its differences 
after different loads. Therefore, in our study 
we have investigated the temperature 
differences in the palm after dynamic and 
static loads during the support on parallel 
bars. It is a frequently performed element, 
but we do not have data on the temperature 
distribution of the palms, the most 
important and only contact with the 
apparatus. What is needed is not only data 
on the temperature distribution and 
difference immediately after the application 
of various loads, but also for a certain time 
after the application of the load, when the 
human body reacts and tends to return to the 
state before the application of the load. A 
study conducted by Šibanc et al. in 2021 
investigated temperature differences in the 
palms following the application of a load 
while hanging. We now wish to acquire data 
regarding palm temperature when 
supporting and swinging on the parallel 
bars, involving both static and dynamic 
loads. In training routines, exercises must 
often be repeated, as highlighted by 
Aarkaev and Suchilin in 2004. However, a 
continual increase in palm temperature due 

Šibanc et. al: PALM TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES ON PARALLEL BARS …………………Vol. 15, Issue 3: 349-366 
Science of Gymnastics Journal                                352                           Science of Gymnastics Journal 
 
to loading may raise concerns about the 
development of blisters on the palms. This 
type of data is useful to optimize training 
scheduling, exercise repetitions, and breaks 
to avoid skin injuries. 
  
METHODS 
 
We measured 38 healthy subjects (11 
men and 27 women), students at the Faculty 
of Sport, University of Ljubljana,. They had 
a body weight of 72.2 kg (±12.5), they were 
1.73 m (±0.10) tall, and were 22.1 years 
(±2.9) old. All participating subjects 
provided written informed consent, as we 
adhered to the principles outlined in the 
Declaration of Helsinki. The study was 
approved by the Ethics Committee of the 
Faculty of sport of the University of 
Ljubljana (12_2018). 
The measurement protocol was 
developed and adapted on the basis of our 
hypotheses: 
1. temperature of the palm decreases after 
the static load in support; 
2. temperature of the palm increases after 
the dynamic load in the swing in support. 
Each load lasted 30 seconds. The 
subjects' hand temperatures were measured 
before loading (indicated as "-30 s" in the 
following tables), immediately after loading 
(indicated as "0 s" in the following tables), 
and then for 5 min (indicated as "300 s" in 
the following tables) at 30-second intervals. 
Thus, 12 thermograms were recorded per 
subject and per loading. For thermography 
(see Figure 1), each subject was seated in a 
chair with hands on the table, backs of 
hands up, and on an insulating surface to 
prevent heat loss into the table. Fingers 
                                                 
1
 LMK is the holder of a national standard for 
thermodynamic temperature in Slovenia. As a 
national laboratory for temperature and relative 
were approximately at the level of the heart. 
Subjects performed two tasks on parallel 
bars (wooden surface, vertical axis of the 
profile 5 cm ± 0.1 cm; horizontal axis of the 
profile 4 cm ± 0.1 cm (Fédération 
Internationale de Gymnastique, 2022)). The 
first task consisted of standing still in 
support for 30 seconds (Figure 2a), and the 
second task consisted of swinging in 
support (hereafter noted as “swings”) for 30 
seconds (Figure 2b), where the swing range 
was fixed (30-45° from vertical). Subjects 
were assigned tasks randomly. The rest 
period between loads was the thermal 
imaging period. The tasks were performed 
with a cylindrical power grip. The 
measurements took place in the gymnasium 
at the Faculty of Sport, University of 
Ljubljana. For acclimatization at 23°C and 
a relative humidity of 40% in the 
gymnasium, all subjects were in the hall 15 
minutes before the start of the first 
measurement. Before the measurements, 
subjects were asked not to smoke or drink 
alcohol for 24 hours, not to consume 
caffeine for 12 hours, and not to use creams 
or lotions on their hands for 12 hours 
(Fernández-Cuevas et al., 2015). There was 
no visible damage to the skin on their hands.  
In the study we used a high-resolution 
thermal imager (FLIR T650sc FLIR 
Systems, Oregon, USA). The specified 
accuracy of the imager in the temperature 
range of 5 °C to 120 °C is ±1% of reading 
or 1 °C, at environmental temperatures of 
10 °C to 35 °C. Prior to our research, the 
imager was calibrated at LMK - Laboratory 
of Metrology and Quality at the Faculty of 
Electrical Engineering, University of 
Ljubljana
1
, to confirm its accuracy, which 
humidity and accredited calibration laboratory it 
holds CMCs – calibration measurement capabilities 

Šibanc et. al: PALM TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES ON PARALLEL BARS …………………Vol. 15, Issue 3: 349-366 
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was better in the applied range. The 
temperature corrections obtained during 
calibration were applied accordingly. The 
imager has an uncooled detector 
(microbolometer), operates in the spectral 
range of 7.5 μm to 14 μm, and has the noise 
equivalent temperature difference NETD < 
30 mK. The imager has a wide-angle lens 
45° (f = 13.1 mm), with the field of view 
FOV 45° x 34° mm, spatial resolution 1.23 
mrad (IFOV), continuous zoom (8x) and the 
minimum focus distance 15 cm. The 
emissivity can be adjusted in steps of 0.01 
from 0.10 to 1.00. Image analysis was 
performed in the associated software 
environment (ResearchIR Max from (FLIR 
Systems, Oregon, USA), which allows 
analyses of various regions of interest 
(ROIs), e.g. areas, spots, automatic 
detection of hot/cold spots, temperature 
differences, isotherms, line profiles, alarms, 
etc. The imager resolution is 640x480 
pixels, which corresponds to 307200 pixels 
in a single thermogram. The high resolution 
is important for a detailed analysis of the 
selected ROIs (Perić et al. 2019). 
Each hand we divided into nine ROIs 
(polygons) as shown in Figure 3: palm, 
thumb, proximal phalanx index finger, 
distal phalange, middle finger proximal 
phalanx, middle finger distal phalanges, 
ring finger proximal phalanx, ring finger 
distal phalanges and little finger. ROIs 
shown in Figure 3 are listed in Table 1 and 
the abbreviations are used in the following 
text for each ROI. Polygons 1-9 represent 
the right hand and polygons 11-19 represent 
the left hand. The boundaries of ROI are at 
least 7 pixels away from the edge of the 
observed area to minimize the influence of 
the size-of-source effect (Pušnik and 
Geršak 2021), a rather important issue in 
thermal image analysis, which was taken 
into account when drawing the ROIs. 
From ResearchIR, data for each ROI 
were exported to Excel (Microsoft corp.): 
mean (XA), standard deviation (SD), 
maximum and minimum, number of pixels. 
We calculated two new variables : the sum 
of the temperature differences of the section 
before the task until the end of the 5
th
 
minute using the equation Σ(Tn-Tn+1), 
where n represents the time series; and the 
temperature differences from the first to the 
last measurement using the equation T1-
Tn+1. 
We used SPSS 25.0 (IBM corp.) for 
statistical analyses: Kolmogorov-Smirnov 
test, means (XA), standard deviations (SD), 
standard errors (SE), for each sector 
variable. A paired Student's t-test and 
Spearman-Brown rank correlation (to 
determine the reliability of the 
measurement) were calculated to compare 
the temperature difference between support 
and swing in support, to compare the 
temperature difference between left and 
right sectors, and to compare the 
temperature difference between time series 
in each task. Excel software was used to 
generate the figures and graphs.
 
                                                 
that are among the best in Europe and worldwide in 
the respective fields of measurement. 

Šibanc et. al: PALM TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES ON PARALLEL BARS …………………Vol. 15, Issue 3: 349-366 
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Figure 1. Camera setting for thermal imaging; position of hands during thermal imaging 
 
 
(a)             (b) 
Figure 2. (a) Support and (b) Swing in support. 
 
 
Figure 3. Thermal image and ROIs on hands. 
 
Table 1. 
ROIs on each hands. 
Polygon Right Polygon Left ROI 
Abbreviation 
Right 
Abbreviation 
Left 
Polygon 1 Polygon 11 Palm P-R P-L 
Polygon 2 Polygon 12 Thumb T-R T-L 
Polygon 3 Polygon 13 Index Finger Proximal Phalanx IPP-R IPP-L 
Polygon 4 Polygon 14 Index Finger Distal Phalanges IDP-R IDP-L 
Polygon 5 Polygon 15 Middle Finger Proximal Phalanx MPP-R MPP-L 
Polygon 6 Polygon 16 Middle Finger Distal Phalanges MDP-R MDP-L 
Polygon 7 Polygon 17 Ring Finger Proximal Phalanx RPP-R RPP-L 
Polygon 8 Polygon 18 Ring Finger Distal Phalanges RDP-R RDP-L 
Polygon 9 Polygon 19 Little Finger LF-R LF-L 
 
 

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RESULTS  
 
The variables were not normally 
distributed according to the Kolmogorov-
Smirnov test. As noted in other studies and 
therefore expected, no significant 
difference was found between men and 
women. The results in our study are 
presented for the left hand (there were no 
significant differences between the left and 
right hands, as can also be seen in Figure 4). 
Table 2 shows the temperature 
difference immediately after load 
application during support and swing, and 
300 seconds after load application, while 
Figure 4 is presented as an example of 
temperatures after support. All values 
decrease immediately after load application 
for all ROIs, for both loads. The 
temperature drop is smaller after swinging 
than after propping, but the difference 
between support and swing is not 
significant. The greatest decrease of 
temperature immediately after load is after 
swinging for the little finger and the distal 
phalanges of the ring and middle fingers, 
and the greatest difference, although not 
significant, is for the thumb (see also Figure 
6).
 
 
(a)           (b)    (c) 
Figure 4. Example of Palm Temperature (a) before load, (b) immediately after support, (c) 300 
s after support 
 
Significant temperature differences by 
time and region before and after load 
application for 30 seconds each in a 5-
minute period, where p < 0.05 indicates a 
significant difference in temperature by a 
paired t-test are shown in Table 3. After 
support for the palm, thumb, and all three 
distal phalanges, the temperature difference 
was significant up to 180 s immediately 
after loading, and up to 210 s for the little 
finger. After support for all three proximal 
phalanges, the temperature difference was 
significant over a longer period of time, 
between 240 s and 270 s. After swing for 
the palm, thumb, and index finger proximal 
phalanx, the temperature differences were 
significant for up to 240 s; for the other 
ROIs, the temperature differences were 
significant for a longer period, up to 270 s. 
For all distal phalanges and the little finger 
after swings the difference was not 
significant at 240 s. 
The temperature differences between 
support and swing are shown in Table 4. For 
palm there was no significant difference, 
seen also in Figure 6. Immediately after the 
application of the load, a significant 
difference between loading was observed 
only for the thumb, where there was a 
significant difference of up to 120 s (and no 
significant difference at 90 s). For all three 
proximal phalanges, a significant difference 
was from 30 s (60 s for middle finger 
proximal phalanx) to 240 s; from 30 s to 210 
s for distal phalange of index and middle 

Šibanc et. al: PALM TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES ON PARALLEL BARS …………………Vol. 15, Issue 3: 349-366 
Science of Gymnastics Journal                                356                           Science of Gymnastics Journal 
 
finger, and from 30 s to 180 s for ring finger 
distal phalange and little finger. 
The temperature differences between 
support and swing are shown in Table 4. For 
palm there was no significant difference, 
seen also in Figure 6. Immediately after the 
application of the load, a significant 
difference between loading was observed 
only for the thumb, where there was a 
significant difference of up to 120 s (and no 
significant difference at 90 s). For all three 
proximal phalanges, a significant difference 
was from 30 s (60 s for middle finger 
proximal phalanx) to 240 s; from 30 s to 210 
s for distal phalange of index and middle 
finger, and from 30 s to 180 s for ring finger 
distal phalange and little finger. 
 
 
Table 2.  
Temperature difference for support and swing right after load (XA0SU-XA0SW) and after 300 
seconds (XA300SU-XA300SW) for left hand by ROI. 
 
Variable XA0/°C 
XA0SU-XA0SW 
/°C 
p(ttest) 0/°C 
XA300/°C XA300SU-XA300SW 
/°C 
p(ttest) 300/°C 
Support P
a
-L -2.05 
-0.13 0.550 
0.39 
0.02 0.244 
Swing P
a
-L -2.18 
0.41 
Support T
b
-L -1.79 
-0.52 0.743 
0.34 
0.02 0.156 
Swing T
b
-L -2.31 
0.36 
Support IPP
c
-L -2.03 
-0.15 0.456 
0.34 
-0.33 0.710 
Swing IPP
c
-L -2.18 
0.01 
Support IDP
d
-L -2.22 
-0.17 0.274 
0.46 
-0.24 0.339 
Swing IDP
d
-L -2.39 
0.22 
Support MPP
e
-L -1.91 
-0.15 0.552 
0.39 
-0.3 0.718 
Swing MPP
e
-L -2.06 
0.09 
Support MDP
f
-L -2.26 
-0.17 0.275 
0.53 
-0.23 0.337 
Swing MDP
f
-L -2.43 
0.30 
Support RPP
g
-L -1.88 
-0.18 0.523 
0.47 
-0.31 0.729 
Swing RPP
g
-L -2.06 
0.16 
Support RDP
h
-L -2.56 
-0.23 0.313 
0.54 
-0.25 0.312 
Swing RDP
h
-L -2.79 
0.29 
Support LF
i
-L -2.37 
-0.29 0.556 
0.56 
-0.23 0.400 
Swing LF
i
-L -2.66 
0.33 
Note: 
a 
P = Palm; 
b 
T = Thumb; 
c 
IPP = Index finger proximal phalanx; 
d 
IDP = Index finger 
distal phalanges; 
e 
MPP = Medial finger proximal phalanx; 
f 
MDP = Medial finger distal 
phalanges; 
g 
RPP = Ring finger proximal phalanx; 
h
 RDP = Ring finger distal phalanges; 
i 
LF 
= Little finger. 
XA0= Sum temperature difference right after applying load, XA300 = Sum temperature 300 
seconds after applying load 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Table 3.  
Differences based on t-test in temperature by time and region for support and swing for the left 
hand. 
Variable 
−30 / 
s 
0 / s 30 / s 60 / s 90 / s 120 / s 150 / s 180 / s 210 / s 240 / s 270 / s 300 / s 
Support P
a
-L
 
 
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.116 0.155 0.320 0.088 
Swing P
a
-L
 
 
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.003 0.002 0.000 0.029 0.129 0.871 
Support T
b
-L
 
 
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.008 0.016 0.076 0.085 0.552 0.144 
Swing T
b
-L
  
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.003 0.001 0.001 0.009 0.194 0.748 
Support IPP
c
-L
  
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.003 0.027 0.878 0.440 
Swing IPP
c
-L
  
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.015 0.001 0.003 0.016 0.326 0.635 
Support IDP
d
-L
  
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.014 0.016 0.059 0.341 0.843 0.103 
Swing IDP
d
-L
  
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.014 0.002 0.064 0.021 0.569 
Support MPP
e
-L
 
 
0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.010 0.026 0.010 0.588 
Swing MPP
e
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.005 0.001 0.216 
Support MDP
f
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.004 0.008 0.056 0.291 0.631 0.147 
Swing MDP
f
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.007 0.087 0.007 0.510 
Support RPP
g
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.005 0.001 0.064 0.505 
Swing RPP
g
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.046 0.175 
Support RDP
h
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.017 0.025 0.372 0.205 0.702 0.057 
Swing RDP
h
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.002 0.001 0.011 0.169 0.024 0.679 
Support LF
i
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.008 0.018 0.038 0.617 0.129 0.058 
Swing LF
i
-L  0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.001 0.001 0.017 0.072 0.011 0.826 
Note: 
a 
P = Palm; 
b 
T = Thumb; 
c 
IPP = Index finger proximal phalanx; 
d 
IDP = Index 
finger distal phalanges; 
e 
MPP = Medial finger proximal phalanx; 
f 
MDP = Medial 
finger distal phalanges; 
g 
RPP = Ring finger proximal phalanx; 
h
 RDP = Ring finger 
distal phalanges; 
i 
LF = Little finger. 
 
Table 4.  
Differences based on ttest between the support and swing time series (where stated values 
indicate difference by t-test (p < 0.05)) for left hand. 
Variables −30 / s 0 / s 30 / s 60 / s 
90 / 
s 
120 / s 150 / s 
180 / 
s 
210 / s 
240 / 
s 
270 / 
s 
300 / s 
P
a
-L
 
 
0.251 0.118 0.145 0.512 0.476 0.458 0.486 0.699 0.783 0.850 0.884 
T
b
-L
 
 0.001 0.003 0.013 0.059 0.035 0.121 0.179 0.380 0.489 0.638 0.968 
IPP
c
-L
 
 
0.243 0.027 0.017 0.008 0.006 0.003 0.008 0.010 0.020 0.055 0.125 
IDP
d
-L
 
 
0.286 0.014 0.002 0.003 0.002 0.008 0.011 0.023 0.055 0.141 0.388 
MPP
e
-L
 
 
0.145 0.063 0.014 0.020 0.005 0.008 0.012 0.035 0.042 0.064 0.187 
MDP
f
-L
 
 
0.319 0.021 0.002 0.003 0.002 0.006 0.015 0.027 0.054 0.145 0.377 
RPP
g
-L
 
 
0.153 0.031 0.007 0.004 0.002 0.009 0.016 0.030 0.038 0.051 0.170 
RDP
h
-L
 
 
0.235 0.016 0.002 0.003 0.004 0.013 0.026 0.075 0.094 0.208 0.467 
LF
i
-L
 
 
0.065 0.005 0.001 0.006 0.005 0.012 0.039 0.078 0.272 0.277 0.542  
Note: 
a 
P = Palm; 
b 
T = Thumb; 
c 
IPP = Index finger proximal phalanx; 
d 
IDP = Index finger 
distal phalanges; 
e 
MPP = Medial finger proximal phalanx; 
f 
MDP = Medial finger distal 
phalanges; 
g 
RPP = Ring finger proximal phalanx; 
h
 RDP = Ring finger distal phalanges; 
i 
LF = Little finger. 
 
 
 
 
 

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Figure 5 shows the mean temperature 
differences of all measured subjects for 
support and swing in support for the right 
and left hands for all measured ROIs. 
There was little difference between the 
right and left hands for both loads, while the 
significant difference between the loads is 
shown in Figures 5 and 6, although Table 2 
showed no significant differences 
immediately after the load was applied and 
5 minutes later. For all ROIs, the 
temperature was higher 300 seconds after 
loading than before loading. After all loads, 
the ring finger distal phalanges had the 
greatest temperature drop (as also seen in 
Table 2); the palm recovered faster than all 
other fingers (1.5 minutes faster on 
average). For all ROIs, temperature 
recovered after bracing, and increased faster 
than after swings. In addition, the 
temperatures of the ROIs increased to 
greater values 300 seconds after support 
than after swings. After swings, the 
temperature decrease was larger than the 
temperature before loading. 
As can be seen from the curves in 
Figure 5, the temperature rises above the 
initial value (before loading) for the support 
was between 100 seconds and 160 seconds 
after loading, while the temperatures of the 
ROIs after swings reached their initial 
values between 170 seconds and 250 
seconds after loading. Temperature changes 
after support increased until 270 s and then 
began to decrease. A temperature decrease 
after swings was not observed after 300 
seconds (except for the distal phalanges of 
the ring finger and the little finger on the left 
hand, as also shown in Figure 6). 
 
 
Figure 5. Temperature difference for the right and left hand during support and swings. 
The two graphs on the left side of the figure show the temperature differences for support, 
and the graphs on the right side of the figure show the temperature differences for swings. 
The top two diagrams show the left hand, while the bottom two diagrams show the right 
hand. 

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Figure 6. Temperature differences of the left hand in support and swing for different ROIs. 
The graphs on the left side of the figure show the temperature values for the palm and all 
three proximal phalanges; the graphs on the right side show the values for the thumb, all three 
distal phalanges, and the little finger. The values for the index, middle and ring fingers are in 
the same row for each finger 
 
Figure 6 shows the temperature 
difference between support and swing for 
each DOI separately. For the palm, there 
was no significant difference between 
support and swing in support, even for the 
thumb after 120 seconds (as also seen in 
Table 4). For the little finger and all distal 
phalanges, the temperature difference 
between support and swing in support was 
greater than for proximal phalanges. The 
increase in temperature above baseline was 
faster and greater after support than after 
swings, as can be seen in Figure 5. After 
support, distal phalanges of the index, 
middle, and ring fingers reached the initial 
temperature value after 90 seconds, while 
after swings they reached the initial value 
after 180 seconds. Only for the thumb, the 
temperature drop immediately after loading 
was different for support and swing (larger 
drop after swing by almost 1 °C compared 
to support). For all ROIs after support, 
temperature values begin to decrease after 
270 seconds, which was not the case for 
temperature values after swing (except for 
the ring finger distal phalanges and little 
finger, as shown in Figure 5). 
 
DISCUSSION 
 
In our study, there was no significant 
difference in temperature distribution and 
no difference between the left and the right 
hands. The loads included in this study 
appeared to be symmetrical - supports and 
swings are symmetrical by positions and/or 
movements (compared to studies in artistic 
gymnastics that consider asymmetries (Čuk 
and Marinšek 2013; Dallas et al. 2022; 
Pajek et al. 2016)), and did not include 
movements such as hanging on one hand, 
rotations around the transverse or 
longitudinal axis. As a consequence, load 
application had no influence on the 
temperature differences of the palms due to 
possible body asymmetries. Something 
similar was observed in the study where 
temperatures were measured after hanging 
on high bar (Šibanc et al. 2021). 
As shown in Tables 2, 3 and Figures 4, 
5, and 6, the temperature decreased 
significantly immediately after the 
application of static and dynamic loading 
for all ROIs. In our measurements, the 
thumb was the only part of the hand where 
the temperature difference between support 
and swing was significant immediately after 
loading, implying that different loads affect 
the thumb differently. The skin contact with 
the bar and thumb was mainly on the inner 
side of the thumb, and the angle of our 
settings was not ideal for measuring the 
temperature of the thumb. Although thumb 
temperature decreased the least after 
bracing (also seen in a study for hang 
(Šibanc et al. 2021)– meaning that in both 
studies this occurred after a static load was 
applied), the temperature decrease after 
swings was the smallest for the proximal 
phalanges of the ring and middle fingers. 
The greatest temperature decrease was for 
the ring finger and distal phalanges after 
both loads. This implies that the distal 
phalanges mainly provide a secure grip, and 
balance the body on the bar. Further studies 
are recommended to confirm these results, 

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although as personally experienced by 
authors, the distal phalanges of the ring 
finger are more stressed during bracing and 
swings, and the thumb ensures greater 
balance during the execution of swings than 
during support. Following the cylindrical 
power grip, in which the thumb is oriented 
differently compared to digits 2-5, is an 
important anatomical feature of the hand 
that allows for this opposite orientation and 
a much stronger grip (Anon 2016). The 
difference between the proximal and distal 
phalanges can be seen in Figure 5. 
According to Table 3, temperatures 
differed significantly for longer periods 
after swings. With the difference in the rate 
of temperature rise (also seen in the curves 
in Figure 5) and the temperature difference, 
the load was higher during swings; during 
support, the response to the temperature rise 
was slower and lower. After support, the 
palm is the only ROI where there was no 
significant difference between support and 
swing in any measured time. Corresponding 
to the different biomechanics of support and 
swings - in swinging, the body's centre of 
gravity oscillates from back to front, 
whereas in support, the centre of gravity is 
above the point of support (Čuk, Ivan and 
Karacsony 2016; Čuk 1996; Kolar, Kolar, 
and Štuhec 2002). The fingers play a 
different role in different positions of the 
swing, while the load on the palm remains 
similar in supports and swings, which 
explains our results. 
The temperatures reach the values 
before applying the load much faster after 
support than after swings (Figure 5). After 
5 minutes of load application, no significant 
temperature difference was observed (Table 
3), and according to Figures 5 and 6, the 
temperatures started to decrease after 
reaching the highest value between 240 and 
270 seconds. In a similar study (Šibanc et 
al., 2021), where palm temperatures were 
measured after hanging and swinging in the 
hanging position, the temperatures 
increased to a higher constant level 3 or 4 
minutes after hanging. Similar trends were 
not observed after swinging in the hanging 
position. Further research on this issue is 
needed. 
A possible explanation for the lower 
palm temperature could be reduced blood 
flow to the palm during the performance of 
elements in the hanging position (Pušnik et 
al., 2017). Blood flow in the skin is usually 
measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter or 
venous occlusion plethysmography. 
Advantages of this method include high 
temporal resolution (measurements are 
performed continuously) and specificity for 
cutaneous microcirculation. To evaluate 
and investigate this hypothesis further, 
future studies should also measure blood 
volume flow through the radial artery. 
Support and swings on the parallel bars 
are fundamental elements in gymnastics 
used at various athletic levels and in 
rehabilitation. These elements are not 
limited to competitive sports but are widely 
employed to achieve various goals. 
Although swings in support were not 
executed exactly as in competitive 
gymnastics in our study, learning the 
elements of artistic gymnastics is a long-
term process. The most crucial factor in 
learning is the use of appropriate 
methodological progressions (Čuk, Ivan 
and Karacsony, 2016; Čuk, 1996), and 
teaching progressions should adhere to 
basic pedagogical principles. “Each 
progression step should include a 
movement structure similar to the desired 
element” (Kolar et al., 2002). This means 
that our research marks a fundamental 
beginning on this topic to understand the 
differences in hand temperature after 

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different loads. It represents an ongoing 
extension of research on the hand (Šibanc et 
al., 2021), where loads in the hanging 
position were one of the main areas of 
investigation. Another extreme and 
fundamental position of interest to 
researchers is the handstand, in which the 
entire body is above the point of grasp. 
Given the increasing development of 
outdoor gyms and equipment, similar 
studies under outdoor conditions and on 
bars made of different materials (wood, 
metal, plastic) should be considered. 
 
CONCLUSIONS 
 
We are aware that there are still many 
hidden facts about our human activities that 
we do not know. Exercise and sport science 
is trying to uncover these facts. One of the 
hidden facts is how the skin of the human 
palm responds to different loads. In a 
previous study, we investigated hanging 
and swinging on the high bar, where the 
heart was positioned below the plane of the 
grip during hanging, and all blood vessels 
were vertically oriented (to simplify). 
However, contrary to our expectations, we 
observed a decrease in palm temperature 
after the exercise. In our current article, we 
explore support and the generation of 
momentum during support, where the heart 
is positioned above the grip, and the blood 
vessels follow two distinct directions: first, 
vertically upward from the heart, and then 
vertically downward. This phenomenon has 
not been observed in previous literature. To 
ensure results that are comparable to those 
of the aforementioned study, it was 
necessary to replicate the measurement 
methods, enhancing the validity and 
reliability of our research. By doing so, we 
also enable other researchers to replicate 
our work. 
The results are generally similar in the 
sense that the temperature decreases after 
the load and increases during regeneration. 
All the grips used in the study required the 
subject to handle their entire body mass. 
However, ergonomics may also benefit 
from these results, as the duration the palm 
skin is under load and the time it takes to 
recover to baseline are essential factors for 
a safe environment, not only in sports but 
also in the workplace. 
To conclusively establish the general 
knowledge regarding expected changes in 
palm temperature, further studies should be 
conducted with subjects in a handstand 
position, with the heart directly over the 
vertical orientation of the grip. 
Artistic gymnastics is a sport, but its 
elements find wide application in 
recreational sports, physical education 
classes in schools, home-based fitness, and 
more. In recent years, outdoor gyms with 
various exercise equipment have gained 
popularity, with parallel bars being one of 
the preferred choices for developing muscle 
strength (Fernandez-Rodriguez et al. 2020). 
The use of parallel bars in rehabilitation 
programs is also on the rise. Further 
research on this topic is necessary to 
comprehend the temperature dynamics in 
the palms. 
Our study revealed a decrease in palm 
temperature immediately after the load was 
applied, followed by a subsequent increase. 
Within 5 minutes, higher values were 
reached compared to the pre-load state. As 
a result, our first hypothesis is accepted, and 
the second hypothesis is rejected. The 
temperature difference after swings is 
greater than after support. Different loads 
exert distinct effects on hand temperature. 
After support, the temperature decrease was 
the least pronounced for the thumb. The 
distal phalanges play a crucial role in 

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providing a secure grip and maintaining 
balance on the bars, hence the temperature 
decrease was most significant in these 
regions. 
 
STRENGTH AND LIMITATIONS 
 
Because of the large database, tables 
including all values were not included. 
According to our results, further studies 
should be conducted to obtain more 
information about the time when the skin 
temperature returns to its pre-load value. In 
the study where the load was suspended 
from the high bar, we began to question the 
effectiveness of rest in preventing skin 
injury. Further research is needed to 
determine when the skin is ready for the 
next load without the risk of potential skin 
damage. It may even be possible to 
calculate and plot a cooling curve for the 
hands. This information can be crucial for 
coaches and athletes during the training 
process. 
While the values for the thumb are 
accurate for this measurement angle, given 
that the main contact with the apparatus 
occurs on the inside of the thumb, taking 
separate measurements from a different 
angle would yield different temperatures. 
To obtain more precise data, measurements 
of the thumb should be taken from a 
different angle. 
To observe small temperature 
differences, typically on the order of a tenth 
of a degree Celsius, one should not rely on 
non-contact temperature devices, as 
inexpensive radiation thermometers and 
thermal imagers are not capable of 
consistently and accurately measuring such 
temperature differences. Therefore, the use 
of an accurate and calibrated non-contact 
temperature device is necessary. 
 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
 
Funding: The authors acknowledge the 
financial support from the Slovenian 
Research Agency (research core funding 
No. P2-0225 and P5-0147). 
Institutional Review Board Statement: 
The study was conducted according to the 
guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki 
and approved by the Ethical Commission of 
the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of 
Sport (13. 9. 2018; 12_2018). 
Informed Consent Statement: Informed 
consent was obtained from all subjects 
involved in the study. 
Data Availability Statement: The data 
presented in this study are available on 
request from its author. 
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare 
no conflict of interest. The funders had no 
role in the design of the study; in the 
collection, analyses, or interpretation of 
data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in 
the decision to publish the results. 
.  
 
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Corresponding author: 
 
 
Karmen Šibanc 
Faculty of Sport, University of Ljubljana 
Gortanova 22, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia  
e-mail: karmen.sibanc@fsp.uni-lj.si 
Tel. num.: +38640473193 
Article received: 8. 5. 2023 
Article accepted: 21. 9. 2023