Reference values for triceps surae tissue oxygen saturation by near-infrared spectroscopy

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Sports Science

Background:

• Peripheral tissue perfusion is crucial for muscle function and health.
• Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) offers a non-invasive method to assess tissue oxygenation.
• Establishing reference values is essential for accurate clinical interpretation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine reference values for triceps surae muscle perfusion using NIRS.
• To compare these values at rest and during progressive exercise.
• To investigate the influence of sex, age, body composition, and functional capacity.

Main Methods:

• 288 healthy adults (30-79 years) underwent NIRS assessments.
• Measurements included tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) during rest, arterial occlusion, and incremental shuttle walking.
• Data were analyzed using percentiles, comparing sexes and age groups, and correlating with anthropometrics and functional capacity.

Main Results:

• Men exhibited lower StO2 and higher deoxygenation/reoxygenation rates (Tx-reox) compared to women.
• Significant correlations were found between body composition and StO2/Tx-reox.
• Functional capacity correlated with Tx-reox during occlusion and progressive effort.

Conclusions:

• The generated percentiles provide valuable reference data for peripheral tissue perfusion.
• Sex, body composition, and functional capacity are important covariates influencing NIRS-derived perfusion values.
• These findings aid in the clinical diagnosis and monitoring of various health conditions affecting muscle oxygenation.