PurposeThis study aimed to examine the effect of applying BFR during rest periods of repeated cycling sprints on muscle oxygenation.MethodsSeven active males performed 5 × 10-s maximal pedaling efforts with 40-s passive rest, with or without BFR application during rest period. BFR was applied for 30 s between sprints (between 5 and 35 s into rest) through a pneumatic pressure cuff inflated at 140 mmHg. Vastus lateralis muscle oxygenation was monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy. In addition, blood lactate concentration and heart rate were also evaluated.ResultsThe BFR trial showed significantly lower oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) and tissue saturation (StO2) levels than the CON trial (P < 0.05). However, power output and blood lactate concentration did not significantly differ between the two trials (P > 0.05).ConclusionApplying BFR during rest periods of repeated cycling sprints decreased muscle oxygenation of active musculature, without interfering with power output during sprints.
Team and racket sport athletes repeatedly produce brief bouts of maximal power output (~10 s) interspersed with insufficient recovery period (~60 s) during competition. This physical fitness component is known as "repeated-sprint ability" (RSA) (Bishop, Girard, & Mendez-Villanueva, 2011; Girard, Mendez-Villanueva, & Bishop, 2011). Recent studies have shown that several weeks of repeated-sprint training in hypoxia further improves RSA compared with the same
We compared upper limb muscle oxygenation responses during repeated double-poling sprint exercise in normobaric hypoxia and normoxia. Eight male kayakers completed a repeated double-poling sprint exercise (3 × 3 × 20-s maximal sprints, 40-s passive recovery, 5-min rest) in either hypoxia (HYP, FiO
2
= 14.5%) or normoxia (NOR, FiO
2
= 20.9%). Power output, muscle oxygenation of
triceps brachii
muscle (using near infrared spectroscopy), arterial oxygen saturation, and cardiorespiratory variables were monitored. Mean power output tended to be lower (-5.2%;
P
= 0.06) in HYP compared with NOR, while arterial oxygen saturation (82.9 ± 0.9% vs. 90.5 ± 0.8%) and systemic oxygen uptake (1936 ± 140 vs. 2408 ± 83 mL⋅min
-1
) values were lower (
P
< 0.05). Exercise-induced increases in deoxygenated hemoglobin (241.7 ± 46.9% vs. 175.8 ± 27.2%) and total hemoglobin (138.0 ± 18.1% vs. 112.1 ± 6.7%) were greater in HYP in reference to NOR (
P
< 0.05). Despite moderate hypoxia exacerbating exercise-induced elevation in blood perfusion of active upper limb musculature, power output during repeated double-poling exercise only tended to be lower.
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