Different gripping intervals in reproducibility of force-decreasing curve and muscle oxygenation kinetics during sustained maximal gripping

The purpose was to examine the properties and reproducibility of the force-decreasing curve and muscle-oxygenation kinetics measured by near infrared spectroscopy in sustained isometric grip and rhythmic repeated grip measurements using various contraction intervals (2 to 5 sec.). 10 healthy young adults performed both grip tests for 6 min., during which muscle-oxygenation kinetics were measured. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the time to reach the minimum value for oxygenated hemoglobin and myoglobin tended to become lower with longer relaxation time, especially over a 3-sec. interval. Although blood-flow obstruction closely influences the initial decreasing grip force during both grip tests with a 2-sec. interval, the decreasing grip force during rhythmic repeated gripping with over a 3-sec. interval is low. Hence, the physiological mechanism related to rhythmic repeated grip with over a 3-sec. interval may differ from that related to sustained isometric grip and rhythmic repeated grip with a 2-sec. interval.