Muscle Oxidative Capacity Is Associated With Physiological Parameters in Trained Rowers.

The muscle oxygen uptake () kinetics following exercise, measured by near-infrared spectroscopy, has been used as a functional evaluation of muscle oxidative metabolism. This study aimed to determine the off-kinetics and verify the relationship of the recovery rate of () with time-trial performance and different aerobic parameters in trained rowers. Eleven male rowers (age: 20 ± 3 years; : 4.28 ± 0.35 L·min) used a rowing ergometer to perform (I) an incremental test to determine the maximal oxygen uptake () and peak power output (P); (II) several visits to determine maximal lactate steady state (MLSS); and (III) a 2000-m rowing ergometer performance test. Also, one test to determine off-kinetics of the muscle using a repeated arterial occlusions protocol. The generated a good monoexponential fit ( = 0.960 ± 0.030; SEE = 0.041 ± 0.018%.s). The of (2.06 ± 0.58 min) was associated with relative ( = 0.79), power output at MLSS ( = 0.76), and P ( = 0.83); however, it was not related with 2000-m rowing performance ( = -0.38 to 0.52; > .152). These findings suggest that although not associated with rowing performance, the off-kinetics determined after a submaximal isometric knee extension may be a practical and less-exhaustive approach than invasive responses and incremental tests to assess the muscle oxidative metabolism during a training program.