Evidence for restricted muscle blood flow during speed skating

Abstract

Consistent with the hypothesis were reductions during skating in VO2peak (4.28 vs 3.83 vs 4.26 L x min(-1)), the VO2 at 4 mmol x L(-1) blood lactate (3.38 vs 1.93 vs 3.31 L x min(-1)), and cardiac output during maximal exercise (33.2 vs 25.3 vs 25.6 L x min(-1)). The reduction in maximal cardiac output was not attributable to differences in HRmax (197 vs 192 vs 193 b x min(-1)) but to a reduction in SVmax (172 vs 135 vs 134 mL x beat(-1)). The reduction in SV appeared to be related to an increased calculated systemic vascular resistance (354 vs 483 vs 453 dynes x s(-1) x cm(-1)). During maximal skating there was also a greater % O2 desaturation of the vastus lateralis based on near infrared spectrophotometry (50.3 vs 74.9 vs 60.4% of maximal desaturation during cuff ischemia). The results were supported by greater desaturation with smaller knee angles during static exercise and by greater desaturation and accelerated blood lactate accumulation during on-ice speed skating in the low vs high position. The results of this study support the hypothesis that physiological responses during speed skating are dominated by restriction of blood flow, attributable either to high intramuscular forces, the long duty cycle of the skating stroke, or both.

Quadriceps muscle deoxygenation during functional electrical stimulation in adults with spinal cord injury

“…Firstly, the maximum amount of deoxygenation of the vastus lateralis muscle induced by arterial occlusion was not determined for each subject. Recent studies 31,36 have used a resting cu ischemia protocol (6 ± 8 min of cu ischemia using a blood pressure cu in¯ated to 250 mmHg) to establish maximum tissue deoxygenation levels and have expressed the degree of deoxygenation during exercise relative to this level. This was not done in this study in light of the ®ndings of Chance et al, 11 who reported that the application of cu ischemia to the vastus lateralis muscle following maximal exercise increased the maximum deoxygenation level by only 3%.…”

Acute Effects of Polyphenols from Cranberries and Grape Seeds on Endothelial Function and Performance in Elite Athletes

“…Furthermore, the potential of polyphenols to improve blood flow must not be overlooked as restricted blood flow is considered a key limiting factor in muscle oxygenation during high intensity efforts [9]. For instance, it has been shown that restricted blood flow is an important determinant of performance in speed skaters [10]. However, information remains scarce regarding the impact of nutritional products on performance via their impact on vascular function, endothelial function and blood flow [11].…”

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

“…Previous research using NIR techniques has centered on laboratory testing using treadmill skating, and has shown that the low sitting position of the skater elicits a lower submaximal VO 2 [7], increased blood lactate concentration [8], and increased quadriceps deoxygenation [4] when compared to upright skating. On-ice tests have shown that skating at higher speeds produces a greater deoxygenation in the quadriceps muscle [8]. The current study utilized a wearable, wireless NIR spectrometer to measure the local muscle oxygenation and blood volume changes during an on-ice race simulation, enabling investigation of the asymmetric effects on right and left legs of skating around a short-track oval.…”