title: Acute effect of static exercise on the cardiovascular system: assessment by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The acute effect of static exercise on the global dynamics of the cardiovascular system is poorly understood. The use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) may be useful for evaluating this effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12 healthy individuals underwent CMR imaging at rest and while performing a maximal sustained static exercise (weight elevation with both legs). We analyzed the effects on left and right ventricular function, ascending aorta dynamics, and venous capacitance using standard cine and phase-contrast sequences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed excellent reproducibility in the measurements of the images obtained at rest as well as during static exercise. During exercise, we observed reduced left (-35 ± 8 %, p < 0.001) and right (-44 ± 9 %, p < 0.001) ventricle end-diastolic volumes, reduced left (-35 ± 16 %, p < 0.001) and right (-43 ± 8 %, p < 0.001) ventricle end-systolic volumes (both with a significantly greater reduction in the right ventricle), a reduced superior vena cava cross-sectional area (-20 ± 17 %, p = 0.003), and increased left ventricle wall thickness. We estimated that there was an increase in left ventricle contractility. There were no significant changes in the left and right ventricular ejection fractions. During exercise, we noted a tendency toward decreased aortic distensibility and a reduction of ascending aorta systolic expansion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy individuals, an acute maximal static exercise produced a reduction in the left ventricle, right ventricle, and superior vena cava volumes as well as signs of increased aortic stiffness without increasing left ventricular systolic wall stress. CMR is feasible and useful in evaluating the hemodynamic effects of static exercise.
authors.affiliation: Grup de Recerca Cardiovascular, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. del Dr. Josep Laporte 2, 43204, Reus, Spain, josepmaria.alegret@urv.cat.
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Alegret
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beltrán-Debón
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Gerche
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franco-Bonafonte
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rubio-Pérez
authors.forename: Nahum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019028:Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014684:Venae Cavae / Q000502:physiology; D016276:Ventricular Function