Low-volume strength and endurance training prevent the decrease in exercise hyperemia induced by non-dominant forearm immobilization.

We examined the effect of 3-week upper limb immobilization on conduit artery cross-sectional area and peak hyperemia (BF(peak)) after exhaustive dynamic handgrip exercise (Ex(dyn)), and that of low-volume strength and endurance training during immobilization. Healthy volunteers (n = 21; mean age, 22 years) were divided into 3 groups: immobilization only (IMM; n = 7), immobilization with training (STR + END; n = 7), and control (no immobilization or training, CNT; n = 7). Endurance training comprised Ex(dyn) at 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) (duration of each session, ~60 s; twice weekly).

Decreased muscle oxygenation and increased arterial blood flow in the non-exercising limb during leg exercise.

We evaluated arterial blood flow, muscle tissue oxygenation and muscle metabolism in the non-exercising limb during leg cycling exercise. Ten healthy male volunteers performed a graded leg cycling exercise at 0, 40, 80, 120 and 160 watts (W) for 5 min each. Tissue oxygenation index (TOI) of the non-exercising left forearm muscle was measured using a near-infrared spatially resolved spectroscopy (NIR(SRS)), and non-exercising forearm blood flow ((NONEX)FBF) in the brachial artery was also evaluated by a Doppler ultrasound system.

Unchanged muscle deoxygenation heterogeneity during bicycle exercise after 6 weeks of endurance training.

The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in muscle oxygen saturation (SmO(2)) level and its heterogeneity after 6 weeks of endurance training using multi-channel near infrared spatially resolved spectroscopy (NIR(SRS)). Nine healthy subjects participated in this study (Male = 6, Female = 3, age: 27 +/- 5 years, height: 168.7 +/- 7.

A study of passive weight-bearing lower limb exercise effects on local muscles and whole body oxidative metabolism: a comparison with simulated horse riding, bicycle, and walking exercise.

Background: We have developed an exercise machine prototype for increasing exercise intensity by means of passively exercising lower limb muscles. The purpose of the present study was to compare the passive exercise intensity of our newly-developed machine with the intensities of different types of exercises. We also attempted to measure muscle activity to study how these forms of exercise affected individual parts of the body.

Hemodynamic relationships among upper-abdominal aorta and femoral arteries: basis for measurement of arterial blood flow to abdominal-pelvic organs.

Background: Arterial blood flow (BF) to all abdominal-pelvic organs (AP) is a potentially useful indicator of splanchnic circulatory dysfunction or various stress-induced AP flow distributions. BFAP can be measured by subtracting BF in the "peripheral" bilateral limb left/right-femoral arteries (FA) from the "central" upper abdominal aorta (Ao) above the celiac trunk according to the formula: BFAP = BFAo-both BFFAs. It is necessary to understand the hemodynamics of the three-conduit arteries to determine physiological BFAP.

Low-volume muscular endurance and strength training during 3-week forearm immobilization was effective in preventing functional deterioration.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine whether endurance and strength hand grip exercises during 3-week upper limb immobilization preserve muscle oxidative capacity, endurance performance and strength.

Methods: Ten healthy adult men underwent non-dominant forearm immobilization by plaster cast for 21 days. Five healthy adult subjects were designated as the immobilization (IMM) group and five were designated as the immobilization + training (IMM+TRN) group.

Arterial blood flow of all abdominal-pelvic organs using Doppler ultrasound: range, variability and physiological impact.

The pulsed Doppler method theoretically enables human arterial blood flow (BF) to be determined in all of the abdominal-pelvic organs (BF(AP)) by subtracting the bilateral proximal femoral arterial BF from the upper abdominal aorta BF above the coeliac trunk. Evaluation of BF(AP) is a potentially useful indicator of exercise or food intake related flow distribution to organs; however, there is a lack of information regarding the physiological significance of BF(AP), and the measurements are yet to be validated. The aims of the present study are to examine the range in BF(AP) among subjects, monitor physiological day-to-day variability in BF(AP) over three different days and then determine whether mean BF(AP) (averaged over the three different measurement days) is related to body surface area (BSA).