106 What is the best way to improve the venous blood flow in the lower limbs?
K Shimizu, HK Hirano
Toho University Medical Center, Sakura, Japan
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
Purpose: We studied to reveal the most efficacy methods for improvement of the venous blood flow in lower limbs using elastic stocking, intermitted pneumatic massage pomp (IPC) and combination of them. Veno Stream was selected as most superior IPC in our past study.-Subject:30 healthy volunteers participated in this study.
Method: Using a ultrasonograhy, we measured peak of the blood flow rate (cm/s) in superficial femoral vein. the examination went by the following method. At resting, maximal exhalation, ankle plantar flexion, dorsal flexion, rotation of the ankle, kicking at the bed edge exercise, and IPC were done and measured peak of the blood flow rate. then, the same contents were done with elastic stocking.
Results: the blood flow rate at the rest of the right foot was 26.01±2.59, maximal exhalation was 29.05±2.89, ankle plantar flexion was 42.84±4.20, dorsal flexion was 58.39±5.73, rotation of the ankle was 51.39±4.63, kicking at the bed edge exercise was 38.07±3.51 and IPC was 55.08±6.72. With elastic stocking, rest was 22.84±3.43, dorsal flexion was 47.02±3.79, and IPC was 52.12±2.95. the most effective exercise was dorsal flexion. (p>0.05).
Conclusion: the combination of IPC and elastic stockings was not superior to IPC alone. We do not show enough blood flow improvement effects only with elastic stocking worn. To prevent venous thrombosis in patients, we should have right knowledge about blood flow improvement.
P107
Circulating progenitor cells mobilization during strenous exercise in healthy men
S Moebius-Winkler1, T Hilberg2, K Menzel2, S Erbs1, A Linke1, G Schuler1, V Adams1
1University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany, 2University of Wuppertal, Department of Sports Medicine, Wuppertal, Germany
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
Objective: Exercise stimulates the release of hematopoietic and endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) from the bone marrow. However, no data are available of the timeframe of EPC release during strenuous exercise. the aim of the present study was to investigate the time-dependent release of progenitor cells during strenuous exercise.
Methods and Results: Eighteen healthy young men cycled for 4 hours continuously at 70% of their individual anaerobic threshold. Peripheral blood was drawn at 16 predefined time points during and after finishing cycling. A significant raise in heart rate and leucocytes was obvious, whereas lactate levels and hematocrit did not change. the amount of circulating progenitor cells, EPCs, mature endothelial cells and microparticles, quantified by flow cytometry, showed a significant time-dependent increase at 210/240 min. In addition a very early rise in VEGF and later increase in IL-6, both measured by ELISA, was evident. All observed changes were normalized 24h after finishing the test.
Conclusion: Strenuous activity in healthy individuals leads to a time-dependent increase in mECs, PCs and EPCs, which may be related to VEGF and IL-6. Altogether these changes at the cellular level may help to prevent severe damage of the endothelial cell layer triggered by longer strenuous activity
P108
Exercise training improves endothelial function in healthy subjects
C Rost, U thummes, WG Daniel, M Wilhelm
University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Erlangen, Germany
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
Purpose: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a precursor of arteriosclerosis. We examined the prevalence of ED and the influence of exercise training on endothelial function in subjects without cardiovascular disease.
Methods: Consecutive healthy employees participating in a company sponsored primary prevention program were included in the study. the standardized four-week program consisted of five hours physical exercise daily (nordic walking, cycling, swimming, gymnastics). Cardiovascular training was performed at 60–85% of the predicted maximum heart rate. the endothelial function was assessed measuring the flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery with a 15 MHz transducer at baseline and after the program. We defined ED as a FMD < 10 %. Responders to exercise training were subjects with an increase in FMD of more than 10 % at follow-up.
Results: We included 20 subjects in the study (57% females, no smokers). ECG, echocardiography and exercise test were normal. At baseline 5 subjects (25%) showed ED. those had elevated triglycerides and a greater body mass index (see Table). Intima-media thickness was normal in all subjects. 10 subjects (50%) showed an improvement in endothelial function at follow-up. All subjects with ED (5/5) were responders, but only 33 % (5/15) of subjects without ED showed an improvement. there was a significant correlation between FMD at baseline and improvement of endothelial function after exercise training (r=–0.577, p=0.019).
Conclusions: ED is already present in healthy subjects and is associated with a higher body mass index and triglyceride level. A four-week exercise training program has beneficial effects on endothelial function, especially in subjects with primary dysfunction.
Characteristics of study participants
Subjects with ED
Subjects without ED
p-Value
(n=5)
(n=15)
Age (years)
48±5
47±5
0.777
Body mass index (kg/m2)
32.6±5.6
26.7±3.9
0.030
Euro Score
1.0±1.0
0.6±0.7
0.347
Total cholesterol (mg/dl)
244±33
227±33
0.372
HDL (mg/dl)
48±6
56±11
0.216
LDL (mg/dl)
151±28
132±30
0.285
Trigycerides (mg/dl)
390±258
112±50
0.037
Intima media thickness (mm)
0.7±0.1
0.7±0.1
0.610
P109
How little pain for cardiovascular gain - A Pilot Study
AE Tjonna1, IM Leinan2, AT Bartnes2, BM Jensen2, U Wisloff1
1Institute of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, 2Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
there are evidence that relatively high exercise intensity may be an important factor for improving aerobic capacity and endothelial function in patients with post-infarction heart failure, metabolic syndrome, coronary artery disease, as well as in overweight and obese individuals. Today's guidelines recommended at least 30 min of daily exercise of moderate intensity, or 20 min of vigorous exercise at least three times per week, but these recommendations appear to be hard to fulfill for most people. Interestingly, some studies report that exercise one to two times per week induces a lower risk of all-cause mortality compared with sedentary, apparently healthy men. therefore, substantially less exercise than currently recommended may be sufficient to reduce cardiovascular mortality. the aims of this study were to achieve more knowledge about the amounts of high-intensity exercise needed to improve aerobic capacity. We hypothesize that 1 × 4 minutes will give the same improvement in VO2max as the traditional 4 × 4 minutes regimen. Twenty six healthy, untrained and slightly overweight male participants (BMI: 25–30, age: 35–45 years) were included in this study. Participants were randomized into 4×4 min aerobic interval training (4-AIT, n=13), or 1×4 min aerobic interval training (1-AIT, n= 13).
During the 10 week intervention 1-AIT and 4-AIT decreased BMI and weight with 1% (p=0.05) and 2% (p=0.01) respectively (no group difference). Fat percent decreased with 2%(ns) in 1-AIT and 3% (p=0.05) in 4-AIT (no group difference). Both 1-AIT and 4-AIT decreased mean arterial blood pressures, by ∼6 mmHg (both, p>0.05). 1-AIT and 4-AIT increased VO2max by 10% and 13% (p>0.01), respectively (no group difference), while peak O2 pulse increased with 14% in 1-AIT (p>0.01) and 15% (p>0.01) in 4-AIT (no group difference). We also observed an improved work economy in both groups, expressed as reduced oxygen cost running at a sub-maximal work load, with 14 % and 13% in 1-AIT (p>0.01) and 4-AIT (p>0.05), respectively (no group difference). there were no changes in either of the groups in regard of endothelial function after this intervention. Both 1-AIT and 4-AIT induced significant reduction in fasting glucose by 6% and 5%, respectively (p>0.05), while cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and ox-LDL cholesterol only was significantly reduced after 4-AIT min interval training (p>0.05). Our Study clearly demonstrates that slightly overweight and healthy individuals, only needs small bouts of exercise with good effort three times a week, to induce large increase in maximal oxygen uptake.
P110
Do nonresponders to one year of preventive endurance training really exist?
F Scharhag-Rosenberger1, S Walitzek1, J Scharhag2, W Kindermann1, T Meyer1
1Saarland University, Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine, Saarbrucken, Germany, 2University of Potsdam - University Outpatient Clinic, Institute of Sports Medicine, Potsdam, Germany
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
Background: In training studies, subjects without improvements in fitness parameters are considered nonresponders. However, the effects of endurance training on different cardiovascular fitness parameters have not been analyzed on an intraindividual basis and it is unclear which and how many parameters should be used to identify nonresponders.
Purpose: It was therefore intended to identify nonresponders to preventive endurance training after one year of tightly controlled training using four common fitness parameters (maximal oxygen uptake [VO2max], resting heart rate [rHR], exercise HR [eHR], individual anaerobic threshold [IAT])
Methods: Eighteen untrained subjects (7 males/11 females, 42±5 yr, BMI: 24±3 kg/m2, VO2max: 38±5 ml/min/kg) completed a one-year jogging/walking program 3 d/wk, 45 min per session at 60% heart rate reserve. VO2max, rHR, eHR and IAT were assessed by treadmill and cycling ergometry, respectively. Intraindividual coefficients of variation (CVs) were extracted from literature (VO2max: 5.6%, rHR: 7.5%, eHR 2.7%, IAT: 1.9%). Pre-post changes by more than a CV were defined as improvements.
Results: VO2max, rHR, eHR and IAT remained unchanged in 4, 4, 3 and 1 cases, respectively. Eight subjects showed improvements in all four parameters. In ten subjects, one or two parameters did not improve. there was no subject without any improvement.
Conclusions: Global nonresponders do not seem to exist, but partial nonresponse may frequently occur in preventive endurance training. A combination of several parameters allowed detecting improvements in each individual. It is therefore recommended to determine either IAT or VO2max in combination with at least one other parameter when monitoring preventive endurance training.
P111
the difference between VE vs. VCO2 slope and Minimum VE/VCO2 during exercise
H Itoh1, T Maeda1, Y Ebi1, A Goda2, M Nagayama1, T Sumiyoshi1
1Sakakibara Heart Institute, Tokyo, Japan, 2Columbia University, New York, United States of America
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
Purpose: Both of VE vs. VCO2 slope and Min.VE/VCO2 are known as the indexes of dyspnea, severity of heart failure, and reflecting a lung blood stream increase during exercise. In our previous study, people who had higher Min.VE/VCO2 than VE vs. VCO2 slope included many patients with pulmonary disease. However, the difference of VE vs. VCO2 slope and Min.VE/VCO2 is well unknown. We examined the difference between VE vs. VCO2 slope and Min.VE/VCO2 in the model of increasing the anatomical dead space.
Method and object: Nine healthy participates without heart and pulmonary disease (age: 28.4±5.0 years) performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing underwent two symptom-limited incremental exercise tests, one without loading the dead space (control) and one with loading the dead space (300ml).
Result: By loading the dead space, while Min.VE/VCO2 significant increased from 27.3±4.0 to 34.4±3.8 (p>0.001), VE vs. VCO2 slope didn't changed from 25.1±6.6 to 26.9±7.0 (p=0.19). there were no differences in AT VO2 or Peak VO2.
Conclusion: Present study shows that while Min.VE/VCO2 is affected by the anatomical dead space, VE vs. VCO2 slope isn't affected, which suggest presence of pulmonary disease should be considered in the interpretation of Min.VE/VCO2 and VE vs. VCO2 slope.
P112
Gender specific effects of TNF-alfa on the muscle function in the diaphragm of mice
N Mangner, V Adams, S Gielen, M Sandri, R Hoellriegel, G Schuler
University of Leipzig, Heart Center, Leipzig, Germany
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
Background: Inflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-α) are known to impair peripheral skeletal muscle function, e.g. in congestive heart failure. Furthermore, TNF-α induces the expression of atrogin-like muscle specific ubiquitin E3-ligases, presumed to mediate the onset of muscle atrophy. the influence of TNF-α on muscle function in respiratory muscles, e. g. diaphragm (DIA) is not well known. We therefore examined the influence of TNF a on muscle function and the expression of MuRF1 in diaphragm of female and male mice.
Methods: TNF-α (100 ng/g body weight) or saline was injected into the peritoneum of female and male C57Bl6 mice. After 16–24h the expression of MuRF1 in the DIA was quantified using qRT-PCR. Muscle function was measured in an organ bath. Force and power generation were determined in diaphragm bundles. Results were adjusted to muscle cross-sectional area, which was calculated by dividing diaphragm strip weight by strip length times specific density (1.056).
Results: TNF-α reduced force development at 150 Hz by 44 % only in female C57Bl6 animals (saline: 10.1±1.2 vs. TNF- α: 5.6±0.8 N/c·; p>0.05). Also maximum power was reduced in female animals injected with TNF- α as compared to sham injected littermates (saline: 45.9±2.4 vs. TNF- α: 20.5±3.1 Watt, p>0.05). In male animals no changes occurred after injection of TNF-α with regard to force and power development in the diaphragm.
Neither in female nor in male animals the expression of MuRF1 mRNA was influenced by the injection of TNF- α (female saline: 8.4±1.9 vs. female TNF-α: 8.6±2.5 arb. Units; male saline: 5.4±0.7 vs. male TNF-α: 7.3±1.1 arb. Units).
Conclusion: the results of this study demonstrate a gender specific effect of TNF-α on the function of the diaphragm leading to an impaired force and power development only in female mice. In contrast to peripheral muscles (e.g. soleus muscle) MuRF1 seems not to be essential in the TNF-α induced reduction of force development in the diaphragm.
P113
Cardiovascular function on older adults: effects of 4 and 8-month of aerobic training
F Accioly Canuto Wanderley, J Carvalho, J Oliveira, N Oliveira
Research Centre in Physical Activity, Health and Leisure, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training
Increased heart rate variability (HRV) and reduced heart rate (HR) at rest have been associated with lower mortality rate. there is evidence from cross-sectional studies that trained individuals have higher HRV, lower resting HR and lower blood pressure (BP) than those untrained. However, on old age adults it is not clear how much exercise is necessary to achieve improvement or whether elderly can ever improve autonomic control by exercise training.
Purpose: To investigate the effects of 4 and 8-month aerobic training on HRV, resting HR, aerobic fitness, and blood pressure (BP) in old age individuals.
Methods: Fifty-six community-dwelling old age individuals (43 women and 13 men; 68.4±5.7 years, BMI=27.5±4.0 kg/·) were randomized into: aerobic training (ATG; n=26, 15–45min, 60–80% HRres., 3 days/wk) or control group (CG; n=30, no exercise). Groups were evaluated at baseline, after 4 and 8 months of training/observation. Using a heart rate monitor, five-min recordings were carried-out after a 15-min resting period in the supine position to obtain low (LF) and high (HF) frequency indexes of HRV. Resting BP and HR were measured with an automated blood pressure monitor in the supine position. the 6-minute walk test was used to evaluate aerobic fitness. To examine differences across the three moments, in each group, Friedman test was employed. When differences were observed, the Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to identify in which moment the difference was significant (p=0.05).
Results: After 4-month of training, it was observed an improvement in ATG aerobic fitness (522 to 607m; p>0.001), lower levels of SBP (138 to 120mmHg; p=0.013) and DBP (71 to 67mmHg; p=0.05). After 8-month of training, ATG demonstrated lower HR (67 to 64bpm; p=0.005), better aerobic fitness (522 to 570m; p>0.001), lower levels of SBP (138 to 123mmHg; p=0.002) and DBP (67 to 63mmHg; p=0.002), it was also observed an improvement in HRV HF index (113.3 to 180.ms2; p=0.05). In CG there were no differences neither after 4, nor after 8-month of observation.
Conclusions: Results suggest that 4-month of moderate to vigorous aerobic training, three times per week is enough to improve older adults cardiovascular function namely, aerobic fitness and BP. However, a longer period such as 8-month seems to be necessary to observe alterations on rest HRV and on HR.
