Rhythmic thermal stimulation as a means of recovery for persons with different baseline blood oxygen levels after load to failure

Aim. The paper aims to identify the features of recovery among subjects with different baseline blood oxygen levels after load to failure. Materials and methods. The study involved 19 male amateur athletes aged from 18 to 20 years. Each of subjects was asked to perform the load to failure test (the bicycle ergometer test). The procedure involved the following stages: baseline measurements, warm-up, load to failure (160 W), recovery (rhythmic thermal stimulation), final measurements. Functional status was evaluated with the following methods: ECG and pneumogram recording, blood oxygen levels, subjective well-being research. At the beginning and end of the study, blood pressure and external respiration were monitored. The so-called physiological price of load to failure and hemodynamic indicators were evaluated. Results. It was found that subjects with high baseline blood oxygen levels had better physical performance compared to subjects with low baseline blood oxygen levels. After physical exertion followed by recovery, subjects with low baseline blood oxygen levels had significantly increased levels of blood oxygen compared to subjects with high baseline blood oxygen levels. Conclusion. Rhythmic thermal stimulation contributed to the improvement of blood oxygen levels.