Short-track time trials left talented skaters more tired 2 and 4 h later than long-track, with lower right-leg quadriceps resaturation
Short-track looks more demanding and needs longer recovery
Participants
n=12 talented short-track speed skaters; each skated a maximal long-track (LT) and a maximal short-track (ST) time trial.
NIRS on m. vastus lateralis of both legs throughout; perceived exertion rated 2 and 4 h after each session as the recovery measure.
Protocol
Within-subject comparison (from the abstract): each skater completed a maximal-effort long-track (LT) and short-track (ST) time trial.
Continuous NIRS on m. vastus lateralis of both legs (tissue saturation index, TSI%), with video capture of each session to interpret the oxygenation data.
Recovery measure: perceived exertion 2 and 4 h after each session; repeated-measures ANOVA.
Key Findings
Both legs desaturated rapidly right after the start in both modes.
Left-right asymmetry in oxygenation in both modes (TSI%-slope LT: left 0.053 ± 0.032 vs right 0.023 ± 0.020; ST: left 0.050 ± 0.052 vs right 0.001 ± 0.053; p < 0.05).
Resaturation of the right leg was relatively lower in ST than LT; the left leg did not differ between modes.
Perceived exertion after the time trials was higher for ST: 5.8 ± 2.0 vs 4.2 ± 1.5 at 2 h, and 4.6 ± 1.9 vs 3.1 ± 1.6 at 4 h.
The authors conclude ST seems more physiologically demanding and needs longer recovery after training than LT; technical aspects of the mode appear to affect oxygenation.
Practical Application
In 12 talented short-track skaters, a maximal short-track time trial left higher perceived exertion 2 and 4 h later than a long-track one (5.8 vs 4.2, then 4.6 vs 3.1) and lower right-leg quadriceps resaturation — so plan more recovery after short-track sessions than after long-track ones.
Inference, not tested: the right-leg difference fits the constant cornering of short-track; monitor recovery between short-track bouts more conservatively than between long-track ones.
Limitations
Small within-subject comparison (n=12), single time trial per mode; local quadriceps oxygenation is one window on whole-body load.
"Recovery" is perceived exertion at 2 and 4 h, not a performance or physiological recovery measure.
Only the right leg differed between modes; the left leg did not.
How this entry was checked and changed
Content correction 2026-09-27
"Greater, more sustained quadriceps deoxygenation" in short-track -> the abstract reports lower right-leg resaturation in ST only; the left leg did not differ between modes.
"Higher anaerobic and ischaemic muscle loading" -> not stated in the abstract; removed.
Added n=12, the TSI slopes and the 2 h / 4 h perceived-exertion values from the abstract; design relabelled within-subject (not cross-sectional); Tier 3-4 -> 2-3 (talented skaters).
PMID 28018243 -> 28018244, the PubMed record returned by searching this DOI.
2026-09-28: added Protocol from the abstract (Europe PMC PMID 28018244).