Comparison of Oscillation of Oxygenation in Skeletal Muscle Between Early and Late Phases in Prolonged Exercise

The aim of the present study was to compare the oscillations of oxygenation in skeletal muscle between early and late phases in prolonged exercise. During prolonged exercise at 60 % of peak oxygen uptake (V(.)o(2)) for 60 min and at rest, oxygenated hemoglobin/myoglobin (Hb/MbO(2)) and total Hb/Mb (THb/Mb) were determined by near-infrared spectroscopy in the vastus lateralis. Power spectra density (PSD) for the difference between Hb/MbO(2) and THb/Mb (-HHb/MbO(2): deoxygenation) was obtained by fast Fourier transform at rest, in the early phase (1-6 min) and in the late phase (55-60 min) in exercise. Peak PSD in the early phase was significantly higher than that at rest. There were at least three peaks of PSD in exercise. The highest peak was a band around 0.01 Hz, the next peak was a band around 0.04 Hz, and the lowest peak was a band around 0.06 Hz. PSD in the early phase was not significantly different from that in the late phase in exercise. Heart rate (HR) showed a continuous significant increase from 3 min in exercise until the end of exercise. Skin blood flow (SBF) around the early phase was significantly lower than that around the late phase. It was concluded that oscillation of oxygenation in the muscle oxygen system in the early phase is not different from that in the late phase in prolonged exercise despite cardiovascular drift.