2017, Volume 9, Issue 3

Muscle blood flow as an indicator of anaerobic threshold in young athletes – A near infrared spectroscopy study

Maciej Chroboczek¹, Magdalena Jakubowska¹, Sylwester Kujach¹, Marcin Łuszczyk¹, Radosław Laskowski<sup>1

1</sup>Department of Physiology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport


Author for correspondence: Radosław Laskowski; Department of Physiology, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport; email: lasradek[at]awf.gda.pl

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Abstract

Background: In this study we evaluated the effect of exercise with increasing intensity until exhaustion on muscle tissue oxygenation in children. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that a decrease in muscle indirect blood flow (O₂Hb) predicts the anaerobic threshold determined by analysis of ventilation parameters.
Material/Methods: Five, young, school-aged tennis players were engaged in this study (age 16.2 ±1.63 years, VO_2max 56.7 ±2.00 ml · kg^-1 · min^-1). Changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO₂), deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHB), blood volume (tHb = HbO₂ + HHB) and muscle tissue oxygenation (TOI%) in the right vastus lateralis muscle, using a near-infrared spectrometer were recorded.
Results: The hemodynamic values (HHB, tHb) increased as expected depending on the exercise intensity. Therefore, NIRS data precedes the occurrence of AT determined by the analysis of ventilation parameters, which in the case of the V-slope method was achieved at 75% VO_2max.
Conclusions:  A correlation between the parameters of muscle tissue oxygenation and ventilation parameters shows that the anaerobic threshold occurs as a result of deoxygenation of a muscle tissue.

Key words: anaerobic threshold, incremental exercise, children, athletes