scholarly journals Enhanced muscle blood flow with intermittent pneumatic compression of the lower leg during plantar flexion exercise and recovery

2018 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 302-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. Zuj ◽  
C. N. Prince ◽  
R. L. Hughson ◽  
S. D. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Exercise Performance ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Intermittent Pneumatic Compression ◽  
Muscle Pump ◽  
Intermittent Compression ◽  
Postexercise Recovery ◽  
Plantar Flexion Exercise

This study tested the hypothesis that intermittent compression of the lower limb would increase blood flow during exercise and postexercise recovery. Data were collected from 12 healthy individuals (8 men) who performed 3 min of standing plantar flexion exercise. The following three conditions were tested: no applied compression (NoComp), compression during the exercise period only (ExComp), and compression during 2 min of standing postexercise recovery. Doppler ultrasound was used to determine superficial femoral artery (SFA) blood flow responses. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cardiac stroke volume (SV) were assessed using finger photoplethysmography, with vascular conductance (VC) calculated as VC = SFA flow/MAP. Compared with the NoComp condition, compression resulted in increased MAP during exercise [+3.5 ± 4.1 mmHg (mean ± SD)] but not during postexercise recovery (+1.6 ± 5.9 mmHg). SV increased with compression during both exercise (+4.8 ± 5.1 ml) and recovery (+8.0 ± 6.6 ml) compared with NoComp. There was a greater increase in SFA flow with compression during exercise (+52.1 ± 57.2 ml/min) and during recovery (+58.6 ± 56.7 ml/min). VC immediately following exercise was also significantly greater in the ExComp condition compared with the NoComp condition (+0.57 ± 0.42 ml·min−1·mmHg−1), suggesting the observed increase in blood flow during exercise was in part because of changes in VC. Results from this study support the hypothesis that intermittent compression applied during exercise and recovery from exercise results in increased limb blood flow, potentially contributing to changes in exercise performance and recovery. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Blood flow to working skeletal muscle is achieved in part through the rhythmic actions of the skeletal muscle pump. This study demonstrated that the application of intermittent pneumatic compression during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle, to mimic the mechanical actions of the muscle pump, accentuates muscle blood flow during exercise and elevates blood flow during the postexercise recovery period. Intermittent compression during and after exercise might have implications for exercise performance and recovery.

scholarly journals Folic acid ingestion improves skeletal muscle blood flow during graded handgrip and plantar flexion exercise in aged humans

2017 ◽  
Vol 313 (3) ◽  
pp. H658-H666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven A. Romero ◽  
Daniel Gagnon ◽  
Amy N. Adams ◽  
Gilbert Moralez ◽  
Ken Kouda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Serum Folate ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Vascular Conductance ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Plantar Flexion Exercise

Skeletal muscle blood flow is attenuated in aged humans performing dynamic exercise, which is due, in part, to impaired local vasodilatory mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that folic acid improves cutaneous vasodilation during localized and whole body heating through nitric oxide-dependent mechanisms. However, it is unclear whether folic acid improves vasodilation in other vascular beds during conditions of increased metabolism (i.e., exercise). The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that folic acid ingestion improves skeletal muscle blood flow in aged adults performing graded handgrip and plantar flexion exercise via increased vascular conductance. Nine healthy, aged adults (two men and seven women; age: 68 ± 5 yr) performed graded handgrip and plantar flexion exercise before (control), 2 h after (acute, 5 mg), and after 6 wk (chronic, 5 mg/day) folic acid ingestion. Forearm (brachial artery) and leg (superficial femoral artery) blood velocity and diameter were measured via Duplex ultrasonography and used to calculate blood flow. Acute and chronic folic acid ingestion increased serum folate (both P < 0.05 vs. control). During handgrip exercise, acute and chronic folic acid ingestion increased forearm blood flow (both conditions P < 0.05 vs. control) and vascular conductance (both P < 0.05 vs. control). During plantar flexion exercise, acute and chronic folic acid ingestion increased leg blood flow (both P < 0.05 vs. control), but only acute folic acid ingestion increased vascular conductance ( P < 0.05 vs. control). Taken together, folic acid ingestion increases blood flow to active skeletal muscle primarily via improved local vasodilation in aged adults. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our findings demonstrate that folic acid ingestion improves blood flow via enhanced vascular conductance in the exercising skeletal muscle of aged humans. These findings provide evidence for the therapeutic use of folic acid to improve skeletal muscle blood flow, and perhaps exercise and functional capacity, in human primary aging. Listen to this article’s corresponding podcast at http://ajpheart.podbean.com/e/folic-acid-and-exercise-hyperemia-in-aging/ .

scholarly journals (−)-Epicatechin administration and exercising skeletal muscle vascular control and microvascular oxygenation in healthy rats

2013 ◽  
Vol 304 (2) ◽  
pp. H206-H214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W. Copp ◽  
Tadakatsu Inagaki ◽  
Michael J. White ◽  
Daniel M. Hirai ◽  
Scott K. Ferguson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Exercise Performance ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Treadmill Exercise ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Endurance Capacity ◽  
Skeletal Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Exercise Endurance ◽  
Microvascular Oxygenation

Consumption of the dietary flavanol (−)-epicatechin (EPI) is associated with enhanced endothelial function and augmented skeletal muscle capillarity and mitochondrial volume density. The potential for EPI to improve peripheral vascular function and muscle oxygenation during exercise is unknown. We tested the hypothesis that EPI administration in healthy rats would improve treadmill exercise performance secondary to elevated skeletal muscle blood flow and vascular conductance [VC, blood flow/mean arterial pressure (MAP)] and improved skeletal muscle microvascular oxygenation. Rats received water (control, n = 12) or 4 mg/kg EPI ( n = 12) via oral gavage daily for 24 days. Exercise endurance capacity and peak O2 uptake (V̇o2 peak) were measured via treadmill runs to exhaustion. MAP (arterial catheter) and blood flow (radiolabeled microspheres) were measured and VC was calculated during submaximal treadmill exercise (25 m/min, 5% grade). Spinotrapezius muscle microvascular O2 pressure (Po2mv) was measured (phosphorescence quenching) during electrically induced twitch (1 Hz) contractions. In conscious rats, EPI administration resulted in lower (↓∼5%) resting ( P = 0.03) and exercising ( P = 0.04) MAP. There were no differences in exercise endurance capacity, V̇o2 peak, total exercising hindlimb blood flow (control, 154 ± 13; and EPI, 159 ± 8 ml·min−1·100 g−1, P = 0.68), or VC (control, 1.13 ± 0.10; and EPI, 1.24 ± 0.08 ml·min−1·100 g−1·mmHg−1, P = 0.21) between groups. Following anesthesia, EPI resulted in lower MAP (↓∼16%) but did not impact resting Po2mv or any kinetics parameters ( P > 0.05 for all) during muscle contractions compared with control. EPI administration (4 mg·kg−1·day−1) improved modestly cardiovascular function (i.e., ↓MAP) with no impact on exercise performance, total exercising skeletal muscle blood flow and VC, or contracting muscle microvascular oxygenation in healthy rats.

scholarly journals Oxygen delivery and the restoration of the muscle energetic balance following exercise: implications for delayed muscle recovery in patients with COPD

2017 ◽  
Vol 313 (1) ◽  
pp. E94-E104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gwenael Layec ◽  
Corey R. Hart ◽  
Joel D. Trinity ◽  
Oh-Sung Kwon ◽  
Matthew J. Rossman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Time Constant ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Chronic Obstructive ◽  
Resonance Spectroscopy ◽  
Proton Efflux ◽  
Muscle Recovery ◽  
Delayed Recovery ◽  
Plantar Flexion Exercise

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experience a delayed recovery from skeletal muscle fatigue following exhaustive exercise that likely contributes to their progressive loss of mobility. As this phenomenon is not well understood, this study sought to examine postexercise peripheral oxygen (O2) transport and muscle metabolism dynamics in patients with COPD, two important determinants of muscle recovery. Twenty-four subjects, 12 nonhypoxemic patients with COPD and 12 healthy subjects with a sedentary lifestyle, performed dynamic plantar flexion exercise at 40% of the maximal work rate (WRmax) with phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P-MRS), near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), and vascular Doppler ultrasound assessments. The mean response time of limb blood flow at the offset of exercise was significantly prolonged in patients with COPD (controls: 56 ± 27 s; COPD: 120 ± 87 s; P < 0.05). In contrast, the postexercise time constant for capillary blood flow was not significantly different between groups (controls: 49 ± 23 s; COPD: 51 ± 21 s; P > 0.05). The initial postexercise convective O2 delivery (controls: 0.15 ± 0.06 l/min; COPD: 0.15 ± 0.06 l/min) and the corresponding oxidative adenosine triphosphate (ATP) demand (controls: 14 ± 6 mM/min; COPD: 14 ± 6 mM/min) in the calf were not significantly different between controls and patients with COPD ( P > 0.05). The phosphocreatine resynthesis time constant (controls: 46 ± 20 s; COPD: 49 ± 21 s), peak mitochondrial phosphorylation rate, and initial proton efflux were also not significantly different between groups ( P > 0.05). Therefore, despite perturbed peripheral hemodynamics, intracellular O2 availability, proton efflux, and aerobic metabolism recovery in the skeletal muscle of nonhypoxemic patients with COPD are preserved following plantar flexion exercise and thus are unlikely to contribute to the delayed recovery from exercise in this population.

Skeletal muscle blood flow capacity: role of muscle pump in exercise hyperemia

1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (5) ◽  
pp. H993-H1004 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Laughlin
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Muscle Contraction ◽  
Perfusion Pressure ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Dynamic Exercise ◽  
Vascular Conductance ◽  
Muscle Pump ◽  
Blood Flows ◽  
Flow Capacity

An appreciation for the potential of skeletal muscle vascular beds for blood flow (blood flow capacity) is required if one is to understand the limits of the cardiorespiratory system in exercise. To assess this potential, an index of blood flow capacity that can be objectively measured is required. One obvious index would be to measure maximal muscle blood flow (MBF). However, a unique value for maximal MBF cannot be measured, since once maximal vasodilation is attained MBF is a function of perfusion pressure. Another approach would be to measure maximal or peak vascular conductance. However, peak vascular conductance is different among skeletal muscles composed of different fiber types and is a function of perfusion pressure during peak vasodilation within muscle composed of a given fiber type. Also, muscle contraction can increase or decrease blood flow and/or the apparent peak vascular conductance depending on the experimental preparation and the type of muscle contraction. Blood flows and calculated values of conductance appear to be greater during rhythmic contractions (with the appropriate frequency and duration) than observed in resting muscle during what is called "maximal" vasodilation. Moreover, dynamic exercise in conscious subjects produces the greatest skeletal muscle blood flows. The purpose of this review is to consider the interaction of the determinants of muscle blood flow during locomotory exercise. Emphasis is directed toward the hypothesis that the "muscle pump" is an important determinant of perfusion of active skeletal muscle. It is concluded that, during normal dynamic exercise, MBF is determined by skeletal muscle vascular conductance, the perfusion pressure gradient, and the efficacy of the muscle pump.

scholarly journals Superficial femoral artery blood flow with intermittent pneumatic compression of the lower leg applied during walking exercise and recovery

2019 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 559-567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn A. Zuj ◽  
Chekema N. Prince ◽  
Richard L. Hughson ◽  
Sean D. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Tissue Oxygenation ◽  
Cardiac Cycle ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Vascular Conductance ◽  
Diastolic Phase ◽  
Total Hemoglobin ◽  
Intermittent Compression ◽  
Walking Exercise ◽  
Postexercise Recovery

The purpose of this study was to determine if muscle blood flow during walking exercise and postexercise recovery can be augmented through the application of intermittent compression of the lower legs applied during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle. Results from four conditions were assessed: no compression (NoComp), compression during walking (ExComp), compression during postexercise recovery (RecComp), and compression applied throughout (AllComp). Superficial femoral artery (SFA) blood flow was measured (Doppler ultrasound) during rest and postexercise recovery. Mean arterial blood pressure (MAP, finger photoplethysmography) was used to calculate vascular conductance as VC = SFA flow/MAP. Near infrared spectroscopy measured changes in oxygenated (O2Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentration throughout the test. Compression during exercise increased SFA blood flow measured over the first 15 s of postexercise recovery (AllComp: 532.2 ± 123.1 mL/min; ExComp: 529.8 ± 99.2 mL/min) compared with NoComp (462.3 ± 87.3 mL/min P < 0.05) and corresponded to increased VC (NoComp: 4.7 ± 0.9 mL·min−1·mmHg−1 versus ExComp: 5.5 ± 1.0 mL·min−1·mmHg−1, P < 0.05). Similarly, compression throughout postexercise recovery also resulted in increased SFA flow (AllComp: 190.5 ± 57.1 mL/min; RecComp: 158.7 ± 49.1 mL/min versus NoComp: 108.8 ± 28.5 mL/min, P < 0.05) and vascular conductance. Muscle contractions during exercise reduced total hemoglobin with O2Hb comprising ~57% of the observed reduction. Compression during exercise augmented this reduction ( P < 0.05) with O2HB again comprising ~55% of the reduction. Total hemoglobin was reduced with compression during postexercise recovery ( P < 0.05) with O2Hb accounting for ~40% of this reduction. Results from this study indicate that intermittent compression applied during walking and during postexercise recovery enhanced vascular conductance during exercise and elevated postexercise SFA blood flow and tissue oxygenation during recovery. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Intermittent compression mimics the mechanical actions of voluntary muscle contraction on venous volume. This study demonstrates that compression applied during the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle while walking accentuates the actions of the muscle pump resulting in increased immediate postexercise muscle blood flow and vascular conductance. Similarly, compression applied during the recovery period independently increased arterial flow and tissue oxygenation, potentially providing conditions conducive to faster recovery.

Neural control of glucose uptake by skeletal muscle after central administration of NMDA

1995 ◽  
Vol 268 (2) ◽  
pp. R492-R497 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. H. Lang ◽  
M. Ajmal ◽  
A. G. Baillie
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Glucose Uptake ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Plasma Insulin ◽  
Regional Blood Flow ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Glucose Disposal ◽  
Central Administration

Intracerebroventricular injection of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) produces hyperglycemia and increases whole body glucose uptake. The purpose of the present study was to determine in rats which tissues are responsible for the elevated rate of glucose disposal. NMDA was injected intracerebroventricularly, and the glucose metabolic rate (Rg) was determined for individual tissues 20-60 min later using 2-deoxy-D-[U-14C]glucose. NMDA decreased Rg in skin, ileum, lung, and liver (30-35%) compared with time-matched control animals. In contrast, Rg in skeletal muscle and heart was increased 150-160%. This increased Rg was not due to an elevation in plasma insulin concentrations. In subsequent studies, the sciatic nerve in one leg was cut 4 h before injection of NMDA. NMDA increased Rg in the gastrocnemius (149%) and soleus (220%) in the innervated leg. However, Rg was not increased after NMDA in contralateral muscles from the denervated limb. Data from a third series of experiments indicated that the NMDA-induced increase in Rg by innervated muscle and its abolition in the denervated muscle were not due to changes in muscle blood flow. The results of the present study indicate that 1) central administration of NMDA increases whole body glucose uptake by preferentially stimulating glucose uptake by skeletal muscle, and 2) the enhanced glucose uptake by muscle is neurally mediated and independent of changes in either the plasma insulin concentration or regional blood flow.

scholarly journals Sequential alterations in the diameters of capillaries in rabbit skeletal muscle following deep transverse friction - a morphometric study

2005 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. A. Gregory ◽  
M. N. Deane ◽  
M. Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Biceps Femoris Muscle ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Cross

Objective: The precise mechanisms by which massage promotes repair in injured soft tissue are unknown. Various authorshave attributed the beneficial effects of massage to vasodilation and increased skin and muscle blood flow. The aim of this study was to determine whether deep transverse friction massage (DTF) causes capillary vasodilation in untraumatised skeletal muscle. Setting: Academic institution.Interventions: Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were anaesthetised and the left biceps femoris muscle received 10 minutes of DTF. Following treatment, wedge biopsies were taken from the musclewithin 10 minutes of treatment (R1 - 4), 24 hours (R5 - 8) and 6 days(R9 - 12) after treatment. To serve as controls, similar biopsies weretaken from the right biceps femoris of animals. The samples were fixed, dehydrated and embedded in epoxy resin.Transverse sections (1µm) of muscle were cut, stained with 1% aqueous alkaline toluidine blue and examined with a light microscope using a 40X objective. Images containing capillaries were captured using an image analyser with SIS software and the cross sectional diameters of at least 60 capillaries were measured from each specimen. Main Outcome Measures: Changes in capillary diameter. Results: The mean capillary diameters in control muscle averaged 4.76 µm. DTF caused a significant immediate increase of 17.3% in cross sectional area (p<0.001), which was not significantly increased by 10.0% after 24 hours (p>0.05). Six days after treatment the cross-sectional area of the treated muscle was 7.6% smaller than the controls. Conclusions: This confirms the contention that DTF stimulates muscle blood flow immediately after treatment and this may account for its beneficial effects in certain conditions. 

Blood flow response of human calf muscles to static contractions at various percentages of MVC

1981 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 929-933 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Muscle Blood Flow ◽  
Plantar Flexion ◽  
Muscle Contractions ◽  
Calf Muscle ◽  
Flow Response ◽  
Steady State Levels ◽  
Age Range ◽  
Static Contractions ◽  
Male Subjects

Six male subjects within the age range of 20–35 yr consented to perform static calf muscle contractions at 7.5, 15, and 30% of their maximum voluntary contractile strength (MVC) for a period of 2 min each. Isometric contractions were performed in a sitting position by pressing the knee against a solid support plate via plantar flexion. Calf muscle blood flow (BF) was measured periodically before, during, and after each contraction by a Whitney gauge. Average resting BF was 3.9 ml . min-1 . 100 ml-1 of calf volume. During the 7.5, 15, and 30% MVC contractions, BF increased to steady-state levels of 7.2, 7.9, and 5.3 ml . min-1 . 100 ml-1, respectively. The values for 7.5 and 15% MVC were significantly higher than resting BF (P less than or equal to 0.05). The postcontraction hyperemia, measured as the area under the postcontraction BF curve, averaged 4.4, 10.1, and 23.2 ml/100 ml, respectively, for the 7.5, 15, and 30% MVC efforts. Comparison of these values with corresponding hyperemic volumes during contraction showed that the portions of the total BF response that occurred in the postcontraction periods were 41, 57, and 88%, respectively, for the 7.5, 15, and 30% efforts. These results demonstrate that during static calf muscle contractions BF increases by only a modest amount, and at even small forces of contraction a sizable portion of the total flow response occurs in the postcontraction period.

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