Determination of the Respiratory Compensation Point by Detecting Changes in Intercostal Muscles Oxygenation by Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

This study aimed to evaluate if the changes in oxygen saturation levels at intercostal muscles (SmO2-m.intercostales) assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) using a wearable device could determine the respiratory compensation point (RCP) during exercise. Fifteen healthy competitive. triathletes (eight males; 29 ± 6 years; height 167.6 ± 25.6 cm; weight 69.2 ± 9.4 kg; VO2-máx 58.4 ± 8.1 mL·kg−1·min−1) were evaluated in a cycle ergometer during the maximal oxygen-uptake test (VO.2-máx), while lung ventilation (VE),. power output (watts, W) and SmO2-m.intercostales were measured. RCP was determined by visual method (RCPvisual: changes at ventilatory equivalents (VE·. VCO.−1. 2, VE·VO.−12) and end-tidal respiratory pressure (PetO2, PetCO2) and NIRS method (RCPNIRS: breakpoint of fall in SmO2-m.intercostales). During exercise, SmO2-m.intercostales decreased continuously showing a higher decrease when VE. increased abruptly. A good agreement between methods used to determine RCP was found (visual vs NIRS) at %VO... 2-máx, VO2, VE, and W (Bland-Altman test). Correlations were found to each parameters analyzed (r = 0.854; r = 0.865; r = 0.981; and r = 0,968; respectively. p < 0.001 in all variables, Pearson test), with no differences (p < 0.001 in all variables, Student’s t-test) between methods used (RCPvisual and RCPNIRS). We concluded that changes at SmO2-m.intercostales measured by NIRS could adequately determine RCP in triathletes.