Biomechanics of the ergometric stress tests: regional and local effects on elastic, transitional and muscular human arteries.
Ergometric exercise stress tests (EST) give important information about the cardiovascular (CV) response to increased demands. The expected EST-related changes in variables like blood pressure and heart rate are known, but those in the arterial biomechanics are controversial and incompletely characterized.


OBJECTIVE
a) to characterize the regional and local arterial biomechanical behavior in response to EST, and its temporal profile in the post-EST recovery phase and (b) to compare different arteries biomechanical response to EST.


METHODS
In 16 non-trained healthy young subjects the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and the carotid, femoral and brachial arterial distensibility were non-invasively evaluated before (Rest) and after EST. Post exercise recordings were obtained 0-1, 4-5, and 9-10 minutes after exercise.


RESULTS
The EST resulted in an early increase in the arterial stiffness, evidenced by regional and local parameters. There were quali-quantitative differences among the arterial local stiffness response to EST, when analyzing conjunctly the different postEST recovery stages. The biomechanical changes could not be explained only by blood pressure variations.
Bia
Daniel
D
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Republic University, Montevideo, Uruguay. dbia@fmed.edu.uy
Zocalo
Yanina
Y
Torrado
Juan
J
Valls
Gabriela
G
Lluberas
Sebastian
S
Craiem
Damian
D
Armentano
Ricardo L
RL
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001698:Biomedical Engineering / Q000379:methods; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D004548:Elasticity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*