Modification of forearm vascular function following short-term handgrip exercise training.
This study examined the effect of low (25% of maximum voluntary contraction) and high (75% of maximum voluntary contraction) intensity short-term handgrip exercise training on localized vascular function. Forearm blood flow was evaluated in twenty-eight healthy men (age: 23 +/- 4.3) pre- and post-training in both forearms at rest, following forearm occlusion and following forearm occlusion combined with handgrip exercise using strain gauge plethysmography. The 4-week program consisted of non-dominant handgrip exercise performed 5 d/wk for 20 min at either low or high intensity. Following training a significant increase in forearm blood flow was noted for the nondominant arm in both groups after forearm occlusion (low intensity group: 16.51%; high intensity group: 20.72%; p = 0.001) and forearm occlusion combined with handgrip exercise (low intensity group: 17.71%; high intensity group: 29.27%; p = 0.001). No significant group by test interaction (p = 0.632) was found. These data show improved unilateral vasodilatory responsiveness after short-term handgrip training. In addition, the degree of change is most notable following the greatest vasodilatory stimulus. Lastly, a lack of group by treatment interaction suggests the change may be independent of training stimulus.
Alomari
M A
MA
Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA.
Welsch
M A
MA
Prisby
R D
RD
Lee
C M
CM
Wood
R H
RH
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods*; D010991:Plethysmography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology