Usefulness of Portable Device to Establish Differences in Muscle Oxygenation Between the Wingate Test and Graded Exercise Test: Effect of Gender on Anaerobic and Aerobic Capacity in Speed Skaters

Muscle Oximetry in Sports Science: An Updated Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

In the last 5 years since our last systematic review, a significant number of articles have been published on the technical aspects of muscle near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), the interpretation of the signals and the benefits of using the NIRS technique to measure the physiological status of muscles and to determine the workload of working muscles.

OBJECTIVES

Considering the consistent number of studies on the application of muscle oximetry in sports science published over the last 5 years, the objectives of this updated systematic review were to highlight the applications of muscle oximetry in the assessment of skeletal muscle oxidative performance in sports activities and to emphasize how this technology has been applied to exercise and training over the last 5 years. In addition, some recent instrumental developments will be briefly summarized.

METHODS

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guidelines were followed in a systematic fashion to search, appraise and synthesize existing literature on this topic. Electronic databases such as Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed and SPORTDiscus were searched from March 2017 up to March 2023. Potential inclusions were screened against eligibility criteria relating to recreationally trained to elite athletes, with or without training programmes, who must have assessed physiological variables monitored by commercial oximeters or NIRS instrumentation.

RESULTS

Of the identified records, 191 studies regrouping 3435 participants, met the eligibility criteria. This systematic review highlighted a number of key findings in 37 domains of sport activities. Overall, NIRS information can be used as a meaningful marker of skeletal muscle oxidative capacity and can become one of the primary monitoring tools in practice in conjunction with, or in comparison with, heart rate or mechanical power indices in diverse exercise contexts and across different types of training and interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the feasibility and success of the use of muscle oximetry in sports science is well documented, there is still a need for further instrumental development to overcome current instrumental limitations. Longitudinal studies are urgently needed to strengthen the benefits of using muscle oximetry in sports science.

Do freedivers and spearfishermen differ in local muscle oxygen saturation and anaerobic power?

BACKGROUND

Freediving is defined as an activity where athletes repetitively dive and are exposed to long efforts with limited oxygen consumption. Therefore, anaerobic features are expected to be an important facet of diving performance. This study aimed to investigate differences in anaerobic capacity and local muscle oxygenation in spearfisherman and freedivers.

METHODS

The sample of participants included 17 male athletes (nine freedivers, and eight spearfishermen), with an average age of 37.0±8.8 years, training experience of 10.6±9.5 years, body mass of 82.5±9.5 kg and height of 184.2±5.7 cm. Anthropometric characteristics included: body mass, body height, seated height, and body fat percentage. Wingate anaerobic test was conducted, during which local muscle oxygenation was measured with a NIRS device (Moxy monitor). Wingate power outputs were measured (peak power [W/kg] and average power [W/kg]), together with muscle oxygenation variables (baseline oxygen saturation [%], desaturation slope [%/s], minimum oxygen saturation [%], half time recovery [s], and maximum oxygen saturation [%]).

RESULTS

The differences were not obtained between freedivers and spearfisherman in power outputs (peak power (9.24±2.08 spearfisherman; 10.68±1.04 freedivers; P=0.14); average power (6.85±0.95 spearfisherman; 7.44±0.60 freedivers; P=0.15) and muscle oxygenation parameters. However, analysis of effect size showed a moderate effect in training experience (0.71), PP (0.89), AP (0.75), Desat slope mVLR (0.66), half time recovery mVLR (0.90).

CONCLUSIONS

The non-existence of differences between freedivers and spearfishermen indicates similar training adaptations to the anaerobic demands. However, the results show relatively low anaerobic capacities of our divers that could serve as an incentive for the further development of these mechanisms.