Comparison of cardiopulmonary function and local skeletal muscle oxygenation kinetics in female medium- or long-distance runners and nonathletes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in cardiopulmonary function and local skeletal muscle oxygenation kinetics during cardiopulmonary exercise testing（CPX）with an ergometer in seven female middle- or long-distance runners (R group) and seven female nonathletes (N group). We set the CPX-end criteria below a certain pedal speed and attached a near-infrared spectroscopy probe on the right vastus lateralis muscle to measure skeletal muscle oxygen saturation. The peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak), peak load, and exercise time were significantly greater in the R group than in the N group. The postexercise reoxygenation time (Tr) was significantly shorter in the R group than in the N group. In addition, a significant negative correlation (r = －0.59) was found between VO₂peak and Tr in 14 participants. In this study, middle- or long-distance runners had a higher cardiopulmonary function and a shorter Tr, reflecting the local skeletal muscle oxygen supply. It was suggested that cardiopulmonary function and oxygen supply of local muscles are related in this exercise mode.