New article published #2: Near Infrared Spectroscopy

This is published online first and will appear in print in 2013. Here we showed how good NIRS is when assessing elite athletes.

Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013;765:81-6.

NIRS Measurements with Elite Speed Skaters: Comparison Between the Ice Rink and the Laboratory.

Hesford C, Cardinale M, Laing S, Cooper CE.

Abstract

Wearable, wireless near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers were used to compare changes in on-ice short-track skating race simulations over 1,500 m with a 3-min cycle ergometry test at constant power output (400 W). The subjects were six male elite short-track speed skaters. Both protocols elicited a rapid desaturation (∆TSI%) in the muscle during early stages (initial 20 s); however, asymmetry between right and left legs was seen in ΔTSI% for the skating protocol, but not for cycling. Individual differences between skaters were present in both protocols. Notably, one individual who showed a relatively small TSI% change (-10.7%, group mean = -26.1%) showed a similarly small change during the cycling protocol (-5.8%, group mean = -14.3%). We conclude that NIRS-detected leg asymmetry is due to the specific demands of short-track speed skating. However, heterogeneity between individuals is not specific to the mode of exercise. Whether this is a result of genuine differences in physiology or a reflection of differences in the optical properties of the leg remains to be determined.

PMID:

22879018

[PubMed - in process]