Oxygenation Threshold Derived From Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Reliability And Its Relationship With The First Ventilatory Threshold

BackgroundNear-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements of oxygenation reflect O-2 delivery and utilization in exercising muscle and may improve detection of a critical exercise threshold.PurposeFirst, to detect an oxygenation breakpoint (Delta[O(2)HbMb-HHbMb]-BP) and compare this breakpoint to ventilatory thresholds during a maximal incremental test across sexes and training status. Second, to assess reproducibility of NIRS signals and exercise thresholds and investigate confounding effects of adipose tissue thickness on NIRS measurements.MethodsForty subjects (10 trained male cyclists, 10 trained female cyclists, 11 endurance trained males and 9 recreationally trained males) performed maximal incremental cycling exercise to determine Delta[O(2)HbMb-HHbMb]-BP and ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2). Muscle haemoglobin and myoglobin O-2 oxygenation ([HHbMb], [O(2)HbMb], SmO2) was determined in m. vastus lateralis. Delta[O(2)HbMb-HHbMb]-BP was determined by double linear regression. Trained cyclists performed the maximal incremental test twice to assess reproducibility. Adipose tissue thickness (ATT) was determined by skinfold measurements.ResultsDelta[O(2)HbMb-HHbMb]-BP was not different from VT1, but only moderately related (r = 0.58-0.63, p<0.001). VT1 was different across sexes and training status, whereas Delta[O(2)HbMb-HHbMb]-BP differed only across sexes. Reproducibility was high for SmO2 (ICC = 0.69-0.97), Delta[O(2)HbMb-HHbMb]-BP (ICC = 0.80-0.88) and ventilatory thresholds (ICC = 0.96-0.99). SmO2 at peak exercise and at occlusion were strongly related to adipose tissue thickness (r(2) = 0.81, p<0.001; r(2) = 0.79, p<0.001).Moreover, ATT was related to asymmetric changes in Delta[HHbMb] and Delta[O(2)HbMb] during incremental exercise (r = -0.64, p<0.001) and during occlusion (r = -0.50, p<0.05).ConclusionAlthough the oxygenation threshold is reproducible and potentially a suitable exercise threshold, VT1 discriminates better across sexes and training status during maximal step-wise incremental exercise. Continuous-wave NIRS measurements are reproducible, but strongly affected by adipose tissue thickness.