title: Impact of eight weeks of repeated ischaemic preconditioning on brachial artery and cutaneous microcirculatory function in healthy males.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischaemic preconditioning has well-established cardiac and vascular protective effects. Short interventions (one week) of daily ischaemic preconditioning episodes improve conduit and microcirculatory function. This study examined whether a longer (eight weeks) and less frequent (three per week) protocol of repeated ischaemic preconditioning improves vascular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen males were randomly allocated to either ischaemic preconditioning (22.4 ± 2.3 years, 23.7 ± 3.1 kg/m(2)) or a control intervention (26.0 ± 4.8 years, 26.4 ± 1.9 kg/m(2)). Brachial artery endothelial-dependent (FMD), forearm cutaneous microvascular function and cardiorespiratory fitness were assessed at zero, two and eight weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A greater improvement in FMD was evident following ischaemic preconditioning training compared with control at weeks 2 (2.24% (0.40, 4.08); p=0.02) and 8 (1.11% (0.13, 2.10); p=0.03). Repeated ischaemic preconditioning did not change cutaneous microcirculatory function or fitness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that a feasible and practical protocol of regular ischaemic preconditioning episodes improves endothelial function in healthy individuals within two weeks, and these effects persist following repeated ischaemic preconditioning for eight weeks.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK h.jones1@ljmu.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nyakayiru
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Tom G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK Department of Sports Science, Aspire Academy, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: N Timothy
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Cable
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Victoria S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Sprung
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Hopkins
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Dick H J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Thijssen
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D019194:Ischemic Preconditioning / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D014664:Vasodilation; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Remote ischaemic preconditioning; cardiovascular risk; endothelial function; microcirculation; vascular adaptation