Effects of muscle contractions on biceps brachii oxygenation investigated by near-infrared spectroscopy

Abstract

Oxidative metabolism is the dominant source of energy for skeletal muscle. To investigate muscle oxidative metabolism, it is necessary to measure muscle oxygen (O2) consumption during exercise. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) allows for the noninvasive investigation of muscle oxidative metabolism during exercise at a high time resolution. However, limited studies have used NIRS to compare oxidative metabolic responses of the biceps brachii during lengthening (eccentric), shortening (concentric) and static (isometric) voluntary contractions, and electrically evoked isometric contractions. Therefore, the overall purpose of this thesis was to investigate the effects of muscle contractions on biceps brachii oxygenation and haemodynamics using NIRS..