Effects of cooling or warming of the distal upper limb on skin vascular conductance and brachial artery shear profiles during cycling exercise.

The relative influence of skin vascular conductance in glabrous (G; palm) and non-glabrous (NG; dorsal and forearm) regions to upstream brachial artery-shear stress (BA-SS) profile are unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of G and/or NG skin vascular conductance (VC), which were modulated by warming or cooling manipulation, on BA-shear rate (SR, an estimate of SS) during cycling exercise. Seven healthy subjects performed 60-min exercise.

Effects of Unilateral Arm Warming or Cooling on the Modulation of Brachial Artery Shear Stress and Endothelial Function during Leg Exercise in Humans.

Aim: We examined the effect of modulating the shear stress (SS) profile using forearm warming and cooling on subsequent endothelial function in the brachial artery (BA) during exercise.

Methods: Twelve healthy young subjects immersed their right forearm in water (15 ℃ or 42 ℃) during a leg cycling exercise at 120-130 bpm for 60 min. The same exercise without water immersion served as a control.