Leg exercise conditioning increases peak forearm blood flow.
To examine whether forearm vascular adaptations could occur after upright-leg exercise training, the reactive hyperemic blood flow after 10 min of forearm circulatory arrest (RHBF10) was studied. RHBF10 was examined in seven subjects before, at 2 wk, and after the completion of 4 wk of bicycle ergometer training. Maximal O2 consumption (VO2max) for leg ergometer work increased 13% (P less than 0.05) over 4 wk. Over that period of time RHBF10 in the forearm increased 50% (P less than 0.05), with a reciprocal drop in minimum vascular resistance. Resting heart rate decreased 15% (P less than 0.05) during the same period. Changes in RHBF10 and VO2max were noted after 2 wk of training. Mean arterial pressure did not change. We conclude that vascular adaptations can occur in the forearm muscle beds, even though the training regimen is designed to condition the lower extremities.
Silber
D
D
Division of Cardiology, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey 17033.
McLaughlin
D
D
Sinoway
L
L
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D010991:Plethysmography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology