Desaturation Patterns Detected by Oximetry in a Large Population of Athletes

Abstract

Optimal exercise performance in well trained athletes can be affected by arterial oxygen saturation failure. Noninvasive detection of this phenomenon when performing a routine ergometric test can be a valuable tool for subsequent planning of the athlete's training recovery, and nutrition. Oximetry has been used to this end. The authors studied 339 athletes performing a similar exercise trial under well controlled environmental conditions. Maximum speed, oxygen uptake, and heart rate levels were simultaneously measured. From the obtained data, six patterns were found: (a) athletes in whom oxygen saturation is constant (> or = 95%) during test execution; (b) athletes displaying a progressive desaturation with incremental exercise intensities; (c) athletes presenting a transient desaturation in the anaerobic threshold region; (d) athletes starting with a mild-to-moderate desaturation at the beginning of the test, but reaching normal saturation values at the end; (e) athletes displaying mild-to-moderate desaturation levels throughout the whole test; and (f) athletes displaying a transient desaturation in the anaerobic threshold region and a new desaturation at the end of the test. In conclusion, it is believed that establishment of desaturation patterns by validated oximetry could be a first approach to evaluate the adaptation of the cardiorespiratory system to exercise intensity, helping to improve results.

Using mobile phones to simulate pulse oximeters

“…These walktest results are similar to the athlete treadmill results 34 in that (1) is steady like (a), (2) is decline like (e) with a bit of recovery like (d), and (3) is abrupt at the end like (f) with the progressive decline of (b). There is no chronic analogue to pattern (c) where the decline is only transient and the recovery is complete to the normal level.…”

“…In some kinesiology studies with healthy athletes, different oxygen desaturation patterns were observed 34 representing different health status depending on physiological conditions. The 339 athletes tested on treadmills displayed 6 saturation patterns: The continuous records of oxygen saturation with pulmonary patients during 6MWT exhibited similar patterns to these athletes, although the range of saturation values was lower due to lower fitness and the desaturation occurred more quickly.…”

“…However, there might be more patterns of oxygen saturation across the population. Garrido-Chamorro et al 34 studies on desaturation of athletes and classifies six patterns, because different athletes recover lung capacity at different rates during physical exertion. For chronic patients, discovering more oxygen saturation patterns means better knowledge on the relationship between oxygen saturation variation and pulmonary function status 38 .…”

Comparison of V̇o 2peak and Achievement of V̇o 2peak Criteria in Three Modes of Exercise in Female Triathletes

“…The criteria were based on VO 2 plateau, HR, BLC, RER, oxygen saturation and RPE. O 2 saturation was included because of recent research indicating that many athletes experience exercise induced arterial hypoxemia at VO 2 peak (15). Oxygen saturation is a simple and inexpensive measurement that is non-invasive which makes it an attractive criterion for researchers to use.…”

The effect of warmth imagery on physiological, physical, and psychological states among injured youth sepak takraw athletes: A case study design

“…The fingertip pulse oximeter can use for measuring heart rate and oxygen saturation to examine athlete's training recovery [36] . This study was designed to use the fingertip pulse oximeter (Model: MD300C2, ver4.0C2, China) ranging from 70 -99% (±3%) to measure participants' heart rate during imagery training.…”