Abstract
This study examined the effects of Sprint Interval Cycling (SIT) on muscle oxygenation kinetics and performance during the 30-15 intermittent fitness test (IFT). Twenty-five women hockey players of Olympic standard were randomly selected into an experimental group (EXP) and a control group (CON). The EXP group performed six additional SIT sessions over six weeks in addition to their normal training program. To explore the potential training-induced change, EXP subjects additionally completed 5 x 30s maximal intensity cycle testing before and after training. During these tests near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measured parameters; oxyhaemoglobin + oxymyoglobin (HbO2+ MbO2), tissue deoxyhaemoglobin + deoxymyoglobin (HHb+HMb), total tissue haemoglobin (tHb) and tissue oxygenation (TSI %) were taken. In the EXP group (5.34±0.14 to 5.50±0.14m.s-1) but not the CON group (pre = 5.37±0.27 to 5.39±0.30m.s-1) significant changes were seen in the 30-15IFT performance. EXP group also displayed significant post-training increases during the sprint cycling: ΔTSI (−7.59±0.91 to −12.16±2.70%); ΔHHb+HMb (35.68±6.67 to 69.44±26.48μM.cm); and ΔHbO2+ MbO2 (−74.29±13.82 to −109.36±22.61μM.cm). No significant differences were seen in ΔtHb (−45.81±15.23 to −42.93±16.24). NIRS is able to detect positive peripheral muscle oxygenation changes when used during a SIT protocol which has been shown to be an effective training modality within elite athletes.
Highlights
Adaptations in skeletal muscle function following specific training stimuli within elite athletes is an area of exercise physiology that is poorly understood
No significant change was seen in muscle blood volume
The primary findings of this study reveal that, in agreement with our hypothesis, significant changes were seen in optical measures following sprint interval training (SIT) training, indicative of an increased muscle oxygen extraction capacity
Summary
Adaptations in skeletal muscle function following specific training stimuli within elite athletes is an area of exercise physiology that is poorly understood. Sprint Interval Cycling and NIRS Use metabolism and muscle oxygenation during exercise [2, 3]. The NIRS technique has previously been utilised to detect improvements in muscle aerobic capacity following training with recent studies showing that both a two and a six week period of HIT (cycling & running) have resulted in improvements in aerobic power, Peak oxygen uptake (VO2) and maximal aerobic velocity together with increases in skeletal muscle deoxygenation capacity in untrained males [13, 14]. NIRS as a tool has shown promise as a reliable, noninvasive local measure of improved oxygen delivery and consumption in untrained populations following HIT training programs. Is it postulated that NIRS will provide valuable information regarding individual elite athletes following specific training protocols
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