“Studying the cutaneous microcirculatory response during upper-limb exercise in healthy, older, sedentary people”

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Klonizakis, Markos

Affiliations: Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK

Note: [] Corresponding author: Markos Klonizakis, PhD. Centre for Sport and Exercise Science, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Hall, Collegiate Crescent Sheffield, S10 2BP, UK. Tel.: +44 1142255590; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This study investigated changes incurred in cutaneous skin blood flux (SKBF) in the superficial veins of the lower limb by upper limb exercise training in the form of arm-cranking in 14 healthy participants over the age of 50 years. Changes in cutaneous microvascular function of the lower leg were assessed using laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) during a 30-minute exercise session undertaken over 4-exercise periods. Both SKBF and Time to reach Peak Perfusion (Tmax) were improved significantly during the 2nd (e.g. 121 (± 107.2) vs 280 (± 269.1) and 171 (± 34.4) vs. 247 (± 38.3) respectively) when compared to the first exercise period, while values approaching initial levels in the following stages. The results indicate that the thermoregulatory and vasodilation mechanisms observed during exercise in middle-aged and older healthy people are different to the one appearing in younger age groups, suggesting a more extensive effect of the age-related structural changes than it was previously thought.

Keywords: Skin blood flow, arm-cranking exercise, cutaneous microcirculation, perfusion, skin temperature

DOI: 10.3233/CH-2011-1510

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 51, no. 1, pp. 69-75, 2012