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Non-invasive estimation of muscle oxygen uptake kinetics with pseudorandom binary sequence and step exercise responses

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to test for significant differences in non-invasively estimated muscle oxygen uptake (\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\)) kinetics, assessed by a square-wave exercise protocol (STEP) as well as by a time series approach with pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) work rate (WR) changes.

Methods

Seventeen healthy and active individuals (10 women, 7 men; 23 ± 2 years old; height 175 ± 11 cm; body mass 73 ± 14 kg [mean ± SD]) completed five repetitions of WR transitions from 30 to 80 W for the STEP approach and two sequences of pseudorandom binary WR changes between 30 and 80 W for the PRBS approach. Pulmonary oxygen uptake (\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{pulm}}}}\)) was measured breath by breath. \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\) kinetics were estimated during phase II \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{pulm}}}}\) in the STEP approach and during the pseudorandom binary sequence WR changes in the PRBS approach.

Results

No significant differences were observed between different models of the STEP and the PRBS approach for estimation of \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\) kinetics (p > 0.05). In addition, a very high variability between the models was determined for \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\) kinetics [mean time constants (τ) difference: − 2.5 ± 11.4 s]. A significant correlation for τ of \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\) between the STEP approach with experimentally determined phase I \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{pulm}}}}\) lengths and the PRBS approach was noticed (r = 0.536; p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Both approaches (STEP and PRBS) are not significantly different for estimating the \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\) kinetics, but the very high variability impairs the predictability between the models. However, the determination of the length of phase I \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{pulm}}}}\) should be as appropriate as possible because predefined duration lengths can result in overestimations in \(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\) kinetics.

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Abbreviations

CCF:

Cross-correlation function

CCFlag (s):

Lag of CCFmax

CCFmax (a.u.):

Maximum (peak) of cross-correlation function

HR (min−1):

Heart rate

PRBS:

Approach implying pseudorandom binary sequence work rate changes combined with time series analysis

\(\dot {Q}\) (L min−1):

Cardiac output

\({\dot {Q}_{{\text{musc}}}}\) (L min−1):

Exercising leg muscle blood flow

\({\dot {Q}_{{\text{rem}}}}\) (mL min−1):

Perfusion of non-exercising tissues

STEP:

Approach implying repeated step responses in work rate combined with exponential data-fitting procedures

SVex (mL):

Exercise stroke volume

τ (s):

Time constant of mono-exponential function

TD (s):

Time delay of mono-exponential function

\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{max}}}}\) (L min−1):

Maximal oxygen uptake

\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{musc}}}}\) (L min−1):

Exercising muscle oxygen uptake

\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{pulm}}}}\) (L min−1):

Pulmonary oxygen uptake

\(\dot {V}{{\text{O}}_{2{\text{rem}}}}\) (L min−1):

Oxygen uptake in non-exercising tissues

V v (mL):

Venous blood volume

WR (W):

Work rate

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the German Space Agency (DLR—Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, FKZ 50WB1626).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Physiology and Anatomy, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    Uwe Drescher, R. Schmale, J. Koschate, L. Thieschäfer & U. Hoffmann

  2. Outpatient Clinic for Sports Traumatology and Public Health Consultation, German Sport University Cologne, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    T. Schiffer

  3. Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany

    S. Schneider

  4. Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, QLD, 4558, Australia

    S. Schneider

Authors
  1. Uwe Drescher
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  2. R. Schmale
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  3. J. Koschate
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  4. L. Thieschäfer
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  5. T. Schiffer
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  6. S. Schneider
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  7. U. Hoffmann
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Correspondence to Uwe Drescher.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by I. Mark Olfert.

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Drescher, U., Schmale, R., Koschate, J. et al. Non-invasive estimation of muscle oxygen uptake kinetics with pseudorandom binary sequence and step exercise responses. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 429–438 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3785-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3785-8

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