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Arm Blood Flow and Oxygenation on the Transition from Arm to Combined Arm and Leg Exercise in Humans
Author(s) -
Volianitis S.,
Krustrup P.,
Dawson E.,
Secher N. H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2002.034496
Subject(s) - oxygenation , blood flow , biceps , skeletal muscle , medicine , work rate , cardiology , blood pressure , chemistry , anatomy , anesthesia , heart rate
The cardiovascular response to exercise with several groups of skeletal muscle implies that work with the legs may reduce arm blood flow. This study followed arm blood flow ( Q̇ arm ) and oxygenation on the transition from arm cranking (A) to combined arm and leg exercise (A+L). Seven healthy male subjects performed A at ∼80 % of maximum work rate ( W max ) and A at ∼80 % W max combined with L at ∼60 % W max . A transition trial to volitional exhaustion was performed where L was added after 2 min of A. The Q̇ arm was determined by constant infusion thermodilution in the axillary vein and changes in biceps muscle oxygenation were measured with near‐infrared spectroscopy. During A+L Q̇ arm was lowered by 0.38 ± 0.06 l min −1 (10.4 ± 3.3 %, P < 0.05 ) from 2.96 ± 1.54 l min −1 during A. Total (HbT) and oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO 2 ) concentrations were also lower. During the transition from A to A+L Q̇ arm decreased by 0.22 ± 0.03 l min −1 (7.9 ± 1.8 %, P < 0.05 ) within 9.6 ± 0.2 s, while HbT and HbO 2 decreased similarly within 30 ± 2 s. At the same time mean arterial pressure and arm vascular conductance also decreased. The data demonstrate reduction in blood flow to active skeletal muscle during maximal whole body exercise to a degree that arm oxygen uptake and muscle tissue oxygenation are compromised.