Abstract
Due to the technical nature of speed skating, that is affecting physiological mechanisms such as oxygenation and blood flow, this sport provides a unique setting allowing us to uncover novel mechanistic insights of the physiological response to exercise in elite middle-distance and endurance sports. The present study aimed to examine the influence of skating mode (short-track vs. long-track) on muscle oxygenation, perceived fatigue, and recovery in elite speed skating. Muscle oxygenation of 12 talented short-track speed skaters was continuously monitored during a long-track (LT) and a short-track (ST) skating time-trial of maximal effort using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) on the m. vastus lateralis for both legs. Video captures were made of each testing session for further interpretation of the muscle oxygenation. To determine recovery, perceived exertion was measured 2 and 4 h after each testing sessions. Repeated measures ANOVA's were used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). After a rapid desaturation in both legs directly after the start, an asymmetry in muscle oxygenation between both legs was found during LT (tissue saturation-index (TSI%)-slope: left = 0.053 ± 0.032; right = 0.023 ± 0.020, p < 0.05) and ST speed skating (TSI%-slope: left = 0.050 ± 0.052, right = 0.001 ± 0.053, p < 0.05). Resaturation of the right leg was relatively lower in ST compared to LT. For the left leg, no difference was found between skating modes in muscle oxygenation. Respectively, two (ST = 5.8 ± 2.0; LT = 4.2 ± 1.5) and 4 h (ST = 4.6 ± 1.9; LT = 3.1 ± 1.6) after the time-trials, a higher rate of perceived exertion was found for ST. Based on our results, ST seems more physiologically demanding, and longer periods of recovery are needed after training compared to LT. Technical aspects unique to the exercise mode seem to impact on oxygenation, affecting processes related to the regulation of exercise intensity such as fatigue and recovery.
Highlights
Speed skating is an intriguing sport to study, in particular because speed skaters need to adopt the biomechanically favorable crouched position that is essential for speed skating performance (Van Ingen Schenau et al, 1983; Konings et al, 2015)
The presence and magnitude of deoxygenation during speed skating has been investigated using near infrared spectroscopy, demonstrating a linear relationship with kneeangle in long track speed skating (Foster et al, 1999) and an asymmetry between the legs in short track skating, related to cornering (Hesford et al, 2012, 2013a,b)
The reduced blood flow to the working muscles reduces the aerobic capacity of the recruited muscle groups (Rundell, 1996), whereas not all the available oxygen can be transported toward the working muscles during speed skating
Summary
Speed skating is an intriguing sport to study, in particular because speed skaters need to adopt the biomechanically favorable crouched position that is essential for speed skating performance (Van Ingen Schenau et al, 1983; Konings et al, 2015). This crouched position combined with a relatively long gliding phase and high intramuscular forces at the same time leads to a physiological disadvantage as it is suggested to increase deoxygenation of the. Due to the technical nature of speed skating that is affecting physiological mechanisms such as oxygenation and blood flow, this sport provides a unique setting allowing us to uncover novel mechanistic insights into these aspects of the physiological response to exercise in elite sports
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