Handgrip exercise induces sex-specific mean arterial pressure and oxygenation responses but similar performance fatigability.

Women exhibit an attenuated exercise pressor reflex (EPR) when compared to men. The influence of sex-specific mechanisms related to the EPR and performance fatigability remain to be fully elucidated. The purpose was to determine the impact of oxygenation and metabolic efficiency on sex-specific performance fatigability and increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) resulting from a fatiguing isometric handgrip (IHG).

Men exhibit faster skeletal muscle tissue desaturation than women before and after a fatiguing handgrip.

Purpose: The purpose was to test the hypothesis that sex and fatigue effect of the early phase of skeletal muscle tissue oxygenation (StO, %) desaturation rate as well as that strength matched adults may exhibit similar responses.

Methods: Twenty-four adults visited the laboratory twice to quantify this early phase of desaturation during vascular occlusion tests (VOT) while in a rested state. The second visit included a sustained handgrip task at 25% of maximal muscular strength until task failure.