Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis of Triceps Brachii Muscle Oxygenation During Sprinting in Wheelchair Basketball Players: A Pilot Study

The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of muscle fatigue by measuring the oxygenation of muscles during wheelchair sprinting in wheelchair basketball players, using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). We believe that this information will be helpful in planning rehabilitation and training programmes. Five male wheelchair basketball players (mean age 30.0 ± 12.0 years, mean height 166.0 ± 12.1 cm, and mean weight 61.0 ± 15.8 kg) participated in this study. These participants performed six 20 m sprint tests after warming up. NIRS measurements were obtained at rest before the start of exercise, during sprinting movements, and during the recovery time after sprinting. Measurements were taken using a wireless NIRS device (PortaMon, Artinis, The Netherlands; sampling rate, 10 Hz) with a single-channel system for tissue oxygenation measurements. The NIRS sensor was applied to the triceps muscle on the participant’s dominant arm and fixed with an upper arm supporter. The measurement data were imported into a dedicated computer and the tissue saturation index (TSI) was calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using the Friedman test to compare the TSI before sprinting and at each sprint, and a post hoc Bonferroni test was conducted. Compared to the pre-sprint measurements, TSI significantly decreased during sprints second, fourth, and fifth. In the present study, changes in the oxygen status of the triceps muscle during wheelchair driving varied greatly among individuals, and a tendency was observed towards the oxygen saturation being lowest by the fourth sprint, with the decrease being suppressed from this point on.