AUTHOR=Paquette Myriam , Bieuzen François , Billaut François 

TITLE=Effect of a 3-Weeks Training Camp on Muscle Oxygenation, V˙O2 and Performance in Elite Sprint Kayakers

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=2

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2020.00047

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2020.00047

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> Peripheral adaptations, as assessed via near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) derived changes in muscle oxygenation (SmO<sub>2</sub>), are good predictors of sprint kayak performance. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to assess changes in SmO<sub>2</sub> and <inline-formula><mml:math id="M2" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover accent="true"><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>V</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover></mml:math></inline-formula>O<sub>2</sub> following a training camp in elite sprint kayakers to evaluate if the training prescribed elicits peripheral adaptations, and to assess associations between training-induced changes in physiological responses and performance.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Eight male elite sprint kayakers, members of the Canadian National Team, performed a 200-m and 1,000-m on-water time trial (TT) before and after a 3-weeks winter training camp. Change in performance, <inline-formula><mml:math id="M3" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover accent="true"><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>V</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover></mml:math></inline-formula>O<sub>2</sub> and SmO<sub>2</sub> of the <italic>biceps brachii</italic> were assessed in relation to training load.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Training load and intensity were increased by ~20% over the course of the training camp, which resulted in a 3.7 ± 1.7% (ES 1.2) and 2.8 ± 2.4% (ES 1.3) improvement in 200-m and 1,000-m performance, respectively. Performance improvement in the 200-m was concomitant to a reduced SmO<sub>2</sub>, an increased <inline-formula><mml:math id="M4" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover accent="true"><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>V</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover></mml:math></inline-formula>O<sub>2</sub> peak and an increased reoxygenation rate after the TT. The 1,000-m TT performance improvement was concurrent with a reduced SmO<sub>2</sub> in the last half of the TT and an increased <inline-formula><mml:math id="M5" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mover accent="true"><mml:mrow><mml:mtext>V</mml:mtext></mml:mrow><mml:mo>˙</mml:mo></mml:mover></mml:math></inline-formula>O<sub>2</sub> in the first minute of the TT.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> Our results strongly suggest that peripheral skeletal muscle adaptations occurred in these athletes with the proposed training plan. This further attests the benefit of using portable NIRS as a monitoring tool to track training-induced adaptations in muscle oxygen extraction in elite athletes.</p>