Skin temperature of the shoulder: circadian rhythms in normal and pathologic shoulders

J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 1998 Nov-Dec;7(6):625-8. doi: 10.1016/s1058-2746(98)90012-x.

Abstract

Circadian rhythm of the shoulder skin temperature was studied in 21 shoulders of 20 patients with rotator cuff tears (average age, 58 years) and 4 shoulders of 4 patients with rotator cuff tendinitis (average age, 34 years). Fourteen of the 23 uninvolved shoulders with no abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging were also studied as normal shoulders. With a portable thermometer with the probes attached to the anterior surface of both shoulders, the skin temperature was recorded every 5 minutes from 1:00 PM to 9:00 AM (20 hours). Both the normal and cuff tear shoulders showed a similar circadian rhythm with the temperature at night significantly lower than the temperature during the daytime (P < .0001). On the other hand, the tendinitis shoulders did not show this circadian rhythm; the temperature did not change significantly through the range of measurement. We conclude that the skin temperature shows a circadian rhythm in normal shoulders, and this rhythm may be affected by certain pathologic conditions of the shoulder.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Circadian Rhythm*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Rotator Cuff Injuries*
  • Rupture
  • Shoulder / physiology*
  • Skin Temperature*
  • Tendinopathy / physiopathology*