Muscle deoxygenation and neural drive to the muscle during repeated sprint cycling.

Purpose: To investigate muscle deoxygenation and neural drive-related changes during repeated cycling sprints in a fatiguing context.

Methods: Nine healthy male subjects performed a repeated-sprint test (consisting of 10 x 6-s maximal sprints interspaced by 30 s of recovery). Oxygen uptake was measured breath-by-breath; muscle deoxygenation of the vastus lateralis was assessed continuously using the near-infrared spectroscopy technique.