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Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(5): 356-360
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15653
Training and Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Muscle Oxygen Desaturation is Related to Whole Body V˙O2 During Cross-Country Ski Skating

J. lm, S. Nioka, B. Chance, K. W. Rundell
  • Sport Science and Technology Division United States Olympic Committee, Lake Placid, NY, USA
  • Department of Biochemistry/Biophysics University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Previous research has demonstrated that blood flow and subsequent O2 desaturation (OD) in exercising muscle is related to the static component during exercise. In speed skating, increased OD is dissociated from whole body V˙O2 and heart rate (HR) when the skater increases the static component by ‘sitting low’. This phenomenon was evaluated in cross-country skiers by manipulating speed and incline during treadmill roller skiing. Eight male cross-country skiers (22.4 ± 3.2 yrs old) randomly performed constant incline- and constant speed-based protocols in which increased load was manipulated in five 4 min stages by treadmill incline or speed change, respectively. A strong relationship (r = 0.83) was observed between V˙O2 and % OD while blood volume change (ΔBV) was minimal. Unexpectedly, no HR/V˙O2 or HR/OD shifts were observed between protocols. The % OD response, in relation to blood lactate values, during submaximal exercise was very similar to that of V˙O2. The lack of an observed greater desaturation at higher inclines suggests that the expected static load may be attenuated by an increased contribution of poling. The strong relationship of % OD to whole body V˙O2 may be attributed to O2 dissociation in the capillary bed of the muscle to meet aerobic energy demand and is independent of blood flow dynamics during cross-country ski skating.

Key words:

Muscle saturation, near infrared spectroscopy, oxygen, uptake, skiing.

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 K. W. Rundell, Ph. D.

Sport Science & Technology Division
United States Olympic Committee at Lake Placid

421 Old Military Rd.
Lake Placid
NY 12946

USA


Phone: Phone:+1 (518) 523-8442

Fax: Fax:+1 (518) 523-8480

Email: E-mail:krundell@usoc.org

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