Single Leg Cycling Offsets Reduced Muscle Oxygenation in Hypoxic Environments

Shane Draper, Tyler Singer, Cody Dulaney and John McDaniel
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Shane Draper: Department of Exercise Science and Outdoor Recreation, Utah Valley University, Orem, UT 84058, USA
Tyler Singer: Department of Exercise Science, Fairmont State University, Fairmont, WV 26554, USA
Cody Dulaney: Department of Fitness and Wellness Leadership, State University of New York Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, USA
John McDaniel: Department of Exercise Science, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: The intensity of large muscle mass exercise declines at altitude due to reduced oxygen delivery to active muscles. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if the greater limb blood flow during single-leg cycling prevents the reduction in tissue oxygenation observed during traditional double-leg cycling in hypoxic conditions. Ten healthy individuals performed bouts of double and single-leg cycling (4, four-minute stages at 50–80% of their peak oxygen consumption) in hypoxic (15% inspired O 2 ) and normoxic conditions. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, femoral blood flow, lactate, oxygenated hemoglobin, total hemoglobin, and tissue saturation index in the vastus lateralis were recorded during cycling tests. Femoral blood flow (2846 ± 912 mL/min) and oxygenated hemoglobin (−2.98 ± 3.56 au) during single-leg cycling in hypoxia were greater than double-leg cycling in hypoxia (2429 ± 835 mL/min and −6.78 ± 3.22 au respectively, p ≤ 0.01). In addition, tissue saturation index was also reduced in the double-leg hypoxic condition (60.2 ± 3.1%) compared to double-leg normoxic (66.0 ± 2.4%, p = 0.008) and single-leg hypoxic (63.3 ± 3.2, p < 0.001) conditions. These data indicate that while at altitude, use of reduced muscle mass exercise can help offset the reduction in tissue oxygenation observed during larger muscle mass activities allowing athletes to exercise at greater limb/muscle specific intensities.

Keywords: blood flow; hypoxia; small muscle mass exercise; tissue oxygen saturation; muscle oxygenation; cycling; tissue perfusion; cardiovascular (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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