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Brachial arterial sympatholytic response in competitive rock climbers
Author(s) -
Baldi James Christopher,
Cassuto Nick A,
De Young Lindsey G,
Kinsey Eric W,
Greenlee Kellen C
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1235.18
Subject(s) - vasoconstriction , cold pressor test , medicine , blood pressure , brachial artery , blood flow , cardiology , forearm , anesthesia , heart rate , vascular resistance , anatomy
Training studies of vascular reactivity often involve brachial arterial function in leg‐trained athletes. This study examined brachial arterial function in competitive rock climbers. We hypothesized that hand‐grip exercise would cause a greater reduction in sympathetically mediated vasoconstriction in climbers. Competitive male rock climbers and healthy control subjects reported to the lab on two separate days. Brachial arterial flow (Doppler ultrasound), blood pressure, heart rate and vascular conductance were measured at rest, during a cold pressor test (CPT) or during 30% maximal hand grip exercise with and without a CPT. Test order was randomized. Preliminary results show similar reductions in vascular conductance in the groups during the CPT (P < 0.05). Exercise elicited a greater increase in arm blood flow and vascular conductance in climbers (P < 0.05). When CPT was added to exercise, reductions in arm flow and conductance (P < 0.05) were not different, but absolute flow remained higher in climbers despite similar workloads. These findings suggest that training increases absolute blood flow during exercise, but does not alter relative sympathetic vasoconstriction in the trained limb.