Validation of near-infrared spectroscopy in humans

NIRS is a validated tool for measuring venous oxygen saturation during exercise and rest.

“Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a validated tool for measuring venous oxygen saturation during exercise and rest (Mancini et al., 1985).”

Invasive experiments, such as isolated hindlimb experiments with animal subjects or venous blood draw in humans performing exercise protocols, show good results when validating NIRS.

“Invasive experiments, such as isolated hindlimb experiments with animal subjects13,14 or venous blood draw in humans performing exercise protocols,15 show good results.”

All three of these investigations included NIRS measurements.

“All three of these investigations included NIRS measurements.”

For Mancini et al., the NIRS data collected correlated with the SvO2 data, but for both Costes et al. and Macdonald et al. this was not the case under the normoxic condition.

“While for Mancini et al.15 the NIRS data collected correlated with the SvO2 data, for both Costes et al.16 and Macdonald et al.17 this was not the case under the normoxic condition.”

Mancini et al. and Macdonald et al. showed SvO2 ranges following small muscle and lower body isolated kicking exercises of 30.4±6.8%, and then 40.1±2.2 (N) and 33.9±1.8 (H).

“Mancini et al.15 and Macdonald et al.17 showed SvO2 ranges following small muscle and lower body isolated kicking exercises of 30.4±6.8%, and then 40.1±2.2 (N) and 33.9±1.8 (H).”

SvO2 range has also been established during high-intensity exercise, during small muscle activation, and during full body exercise.

“This range has also been established during high-intensity exercise, during small muscle activation, and during full body exercise.”

NIRS measurements accurately reflect venous oxygen saturation.

“Mechanistically this makes sense, as NIRS measurements have been shown to accurately reflect venous oxygen saturation (Mancini et al., 1994).”