Analysis of NIRS-based muscle oxygenation parameters by inclusion of adipose tissue thickness.

The assessment of muscle oxygenation by non-invasive near-infrared spectroscopy generally assumes a homogeneous medium, and this is flawed for large adipose tissue layers underneath the skin. Here we summarize the influence of the adipose tissue thickness on the oxygenation data, show that the adipose layer can be measured by NIRS and indicate a possible correction algorithm. Spectroscopic evidence suggests the usefulness of this algorithm, however, not in all subjects.