We present a method for determination of muscle blood flow (MBF) using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) with indocyanine green (ICG) as the tracer. MBF was quantified using the integrated arterial (ICG) and the accumulation of ICG in muscle. MBF was determined together with ICG-assessed cardiac output (GO) at rest and during incremental cycling. To further modify CO, the same work loads were performed after cardio-selective beta blockade by metoprolol. In one subject both MBF (9 to 110 ml.100 g(-1).min(-1)) and CO increased linearly with work rate (8 to 19 l.min(-1)). Under beta blockade, both the increase in MBF and CO were lower: 5 to 70 ml.100 g(-1).min(-1) and 5 to 16 l.min(-1), respectively. During exercise with and without beta blockade, MBF increased with work load to represent a larger proportion of CO. Also, NIRS could detect an attenuated increase in MBF manifest by the restrained CO during leg exercise after cardio-selective beta blockade. Both observations indicate that NIRS detection of indocyanine green provides an estimate of muscle blood flow over the range from rest to intense exercise.