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Changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise measured by near-infrared spectroscopy on ascent to altitude

Changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise measured by near-infrared spectroscopy on ascent to altitude
Changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise measured by near-infrared spectroscopy on ascent to altitude
Introduction: We sought to quantify changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in healthy volunteers ascending to high altitude.

Methods: Using NIRS, skeletal muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) was measured in the vastus lateralis of 24 subjects. Measurements were performed at sea level (SL; 75 m), at 3,500 m, on arrival at 5,300 m (5,300 m-a; days 15 to 17) and at 5,300 m again (5,300 m-b; days 69 to 71). Amongst the subjects, nine remained at 5,300 m whilst 14 climbed to a maximum of 8,848 m. Exercise was 3 minutes of unloaded cycling followed by an incremental ramp protocol to exhaustion. The absolute StO2 at different stages of exercise along with the difference between StO2 at stages and the rate of change in StO2 were compared between altitudes. Resting peripheral oxygen saturation was recorded.

Results: NIRS data achieving predefined quality criteria were available for 18 subjects at 75 m, 16 subjects at 3,500 m, 16 subjects on arrival at 5,300 m and 16 subjects on departure from 5,300 m. At SL, mean StO2 declined from 74.4% at rest to 36.4% at maximal oxygen consumption (P < 0.0001) and then rose to 82.3% (P < 0.0001) 60 seconds after exercise had ceased. At 3,500 m-a and 5,300 m-b, the pattern was similar to SL but absolute values were approximately 15% lower at all stages. At 5,300 m-a, the resting StO2 was similar to SL and the change in StO2 at each exercise stage less marked. At 5,300 m-b, the rate of decline in StO2 during exercise was more rapid than SL (P = 0.008); here the climbers had a smaller decline in StO2 during exercise (41.0%) and a slower rate of desaturation (0.086%/second) than those who had remained at 5,300 m (62.9% and 0.127%/second) (P = 0.031 and P = 0.047, respectively).

Conclusions: In most individuals, NIRS can be used to measure exercising skeletal muscle oxygenation in the field. During exercise the patterns of absolute oxygenation are broadly similar at altitude and SL. Following prolonged adaptation to altitude, the rate of muscle desaturation is more rapid than observed at SL but less so in those exposed to extreme hypoxia above 5,300 m.

1364-8535
S7
Martin, Daniel S.
3e441b48-9221-4308-8ae6-49cbde20753f
Levett, Denny Z.H.
4b33b751-32be-4fa3-aaf7-b62e62f08de8
Mythen, Michael
c69ecb9c-1f17-440d-9ddb-b33924a4c610
Grocott, Mike P.W.
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2
Caudwell Xtreme Everest Research Group
Martin, Daniel S.
3e441b48-9221-4308-8ae6-49cbde20753f
Levett, Denny Z.H.
4b33b751-32be-4fa3-aaf7-b62e62f08de8
Mythen, Michael
c69ecb9c-1f17-440d-9ddb-b33924a4c610
Grocott, Mike P.W.
1e87b741-513e-4a22-be13-0f7bb344e8c2

Martin, Daniel S., Levett, Denny Z.H., Mythen, Michael and Grocott, Mike P.W. , Caudwell Xtreme Everest Research Group (2009) Changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise measured by near-infrared spectroscopy on ascent to altitude. Critical Care, 13 (Supp.5), S7. (doi:10.1186/cc8005).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Introduction: We sought to quantify changes in skeletal muscle oxygenation during exercise using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in healthy volunteers ascending to high altitude.

Methods: Using NIRS, skeletal muscle tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) was measured in the vastus lateralis of 24 subjects. Measurements were performed at sea level (SL; 75 m), at 3,500 m, on arrival at 5,300 m (5,300 m-a; days 15 to 17) and at 5,300 m again (5,300 m-b; days 69 to 71). Amongst the subjects, nine remained at 5,300 m whilst 14 climbed to a maximum of 8,848 m. Exercise was 3 minutes of unloaded cycling followed by an incremental ramp protocol to exhaustion. The absolute StO2 at different stages of exercise along with the difference between StO2 at stages and the rate of change in StO2 were compared between altitudes. Resting peripheral oxygen saturation was recorded.

Results: NIRS data achieving predefined quality criteria were available for 18 subjects at 75 m, 16 subjects at 3,500 m, 16 subjects on arrival at 5,300 m and 16 subjects on departure from 5,300 m. At SL, mean StO2 declined from 74.4% at rest to 36.4% at maximal oxygen consumption (P < 0.0001) and then rose to 82.3% (P < 0.0001) 60 seconds after exercise had ceased. At 3,500 m-a and 5,300 m-b, the pattern was similar to SL but absolute values were approximately 15% lower at all stages. At 5,300 m-a, the resting StO2 was similar to SL and the change in StO2 at each exercise stage less marked. At 5,300 m-b, the rate of decline in StO2 during exercise was more rapid than SL (P = 0.008); here the climbers had a smaller decline in StO2 during exercise (41.0%) and a slower rate of desaturation (0.086%/second) than those who had remained at 5,300 m (62.9% and 0.127%/second) (P = 0.031 and P = 0.047, respectively).

Conclusions: In most individuals, NIRS can be used to measure exercising skeletal muscle oxygenation in the field. During exercise the patterns of absolute oxygenation are broadly similar at altitude and SL. Following prolonged adaptation to altitude, the rate of muscle desaturation is more rapid than observed at SL but less so in those exposed to extreme hypoxia above 5,300 m.

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More information

e-pub ahead of print date: 30 November 2009
Published date: November 2009
Additional Information: Research
Organisations: Human Development & Health

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 73614
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/73614
ISSN: 1364-8535
PURE UUID: 2b80b249-ed2a-4f74-b157-ba8d434a89bd
ORCID for Mike P.W. Grocott: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9484-7581

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Date deposited: 10 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:54

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Contributors

Author: Daniel S. Martin
Author: Denny Z.H. Levett
Author: Michael Mythen
Corporate Author: Caudwell Xtreme Everest Research Group

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