Effects of Sustained Exercise and Intermittent Exercise on Oxygen Change in the Vastus Lateralis Muscle

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to inspect the effect of sustained exercise and intermittent exercise on oxygen change in the vastus lateralis muscle. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 17 healthy males and females. Sustained exercise was performed for 30 minutes at 50% of maximal oxygen uptake, and intermittent exercise was performed for 10 minutes followed by rest of 5 minutes three times. Muscle oxygenation, oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide emission, and cardiac output were measured, and the two exercise conditions were compared. [Results] Muscle oxygenation and cardiac output showed no significant differences between the two conditions, but the oxygen intake and carbon footprint were significantly different with sustained exercise showing lower values than intermittent exercise. [Conclusion] Feelings of dyspnea were felt less in intermittent exercise than in sustained exercise, suggesting that it could be more easily performed.