Underwater near-infrared spectroscopy can measure training adaptations in adolescent swimmers

Abstract

The development of an underwater near-infrared spectroscopy (uNIRS) device has enabled previously unattainable measurements of peripheral muscle hemodynamics and oxygenation to be taken within the natural aquatic environment. The purposes of this study were (i) to trial the use of uNIRS, in a real world training study, and (ii) to monitor the effects of a swim training program upon muscle oxygenation status in short distance swimming. A total of 14 junior club level swimmers completed a repeated swim sprint test before and after an eight week endurance training program. A waterproof, portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy device was attached to the vastus lateralis. uNIRS successfully measured changes in muscle oxygenation and blood volume in all individuals; rapid sub-second time resolution of the device was able to demonstrate muscle oxygenation changes during the characteristic swim movements. Post training heart rate recovery and swim performance time were significantly improved. uNIRS data also showed significant changes. A larger rise in deoxyhemoglobin during individual sprints suggested training induced an increase in muscle oxygen extraction; a faster recovery time for muscle oxygenation suggested positive training induced changes and significant changes in muscle blood flow also occur. As a strong correlation was seen between an increased reoxygenation rate and an improved swim performance time, these findings support the use of uNIRS as a new performance analysis tool in swimming.

Land vs. water HIIE effects on muscle oxygenation and physiological parameter responses in postmenopausal women

“…The heart blood volume during diastole in water is greater than that on land, therefore the stroke volume is increased, and the blood flow to the main action muscle group is increased 32,33 . Recent studies showed that more muscle oxygen utilization and muscle blood flow occur in water-based exercise than with land-based exercise, whether aerobic exercise, muscle exercise or aerobic combined strength courses 38,39 . The implication is that the oxygen and energy supplies are sufficient during muscle contraction in water, which can also accelerate energy metabolites elimination.…”

Muscle Oxygenation, Heart Rate, and Blood Lactate Concentration During Submaximal and Maximal Interval Swimming

“…BLa, on its part, is sensitive to changes in exercise intensity and duration (Beneke et al, 2011 ). On the other hand, real-time data accumulation through NIRS is a useful evaluation tool during training efforts (Jones et al, 2018 ). Thus, the conjunction of the two testing procedures may prove beneficial for accurately and thoroughly evaluating intensity during swimming.…”

“…Acknowledging that different responses, especially in high training efforts, have been shown during BLa and HR testing in swimming (Skorski et al, 2012 ), their usage in combination with near-infrared spectroscopy measurement can be realized as a form of alternative or complementary method, depending on the performed exercise intensity. Moreover, it may potentially offer a non-invasive analysis of dynamic changes in oxygenation and blood volume, detect the relative muscles contribution, and assess training-induced adaptations after endurance training (Jones and Cooper, 2016 ; Jones et al, 2018 ). Future studies should consider this relationship in swimming distances of longer duration.…”

“…Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a relatively new technique with increasing popularity due to the fact that it non-invasively and directly enables measurements of changes in tissue oxygenation and hemodynamics as a response to dynamic exercise (Bhambhani, 2004 ). Recently, this technology has been applied in swimming as a complementary method to monitor peripheral training adaptations, to examine acute training responses to athletes of different competitive levels, and to evaluate different active recovery protocols (Jones et al, 2018 ; Dalamitros et al, 2019 ; Pratama and Yimlamai, 2020 ). In addition, NIRS has been examined as a potential alternative to BLa measurement in swimmers of different training levels (Wu et al, 2015 ).…”

Muscle Oxygenation Unlocks the Secrets of Physiological Responses to Exercise: Time to Exploit it in the Training Monitoring

“…Using multiple NIRS sensors to different muscle groups, comparing local metabolic responses among each muscle toward the energy demand of the exercise is possible, and may help to diagnose weakness and strengths within a tailored training approach. Additionally, NIRS devices allow for the measurements in the applied settings as evidenced for a while in various challenging and even extreme sports such as speed skating (Hesford et al, 2013), swimming (Jones et al, 2018), and kayaking (Paquette et al, 2018(Paquette et al, -2020. In aquatic environments with a specially waterproofed NIRS device, Jones et al (2018) observed that improved oxidative metabolism of the muscle following 8-weeks endurance training in adolescents was strongly associated (not for HR and RPE) with the improved swim exercise performance.…”