|
|
||||||||
1. The cardiovascular responses to voluntary isometric contractions performed by human subjects are determined by the proportion of maximal tension achieved by the muscles contracting, and not by the mass of the contracting muscles, nor by the absolute tension achieved (Lind & McNicol, 1967; confirmed here). When two or more muscle groups contract simultaneously at different relative tensions, the increments in heart rate and blood pressure are the same as when the muscle group at the higher relative tension contracts alone at that tension (Lind & McNicol, 1967). It is known that there are both central and reflex stimuli to the cardiovascular system in exercise, and the present study examines whether the muscular reflex stimuli are related to the proportion of maximal tension achieved or to the mass of contracting muscle. 2. Isometric hind-limb contractions were induced in anaesthetized dogs and cats by stimulation of spinal ventral roots. Pressor responses to contraction of both hind limbs were greater than responses to contractions of either hind limb alone. No differences were observed between heart rate responses to single or combined hind-limb contractions. 3. When human subjects perform isometric contractions, a pressor response can be maintained beyond the conclusion of the exercise by occluding muscle blood flow. This response is generally attributed to a reflex set up in the muscle by the action of chemical factors on afferent nerves. When comparable pressor responses were evoked by comparable proportional efforts with either the whole hand or the little finger, it was found here that the pressor responses remaining during the period of post-exercise occlusion were greater when the greater mass of muscle had been exercised. 4. It is concluded that the muscular reflex drive in isometric exercise is related to the bulk of contracting muscle.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
A. Momen, B. Handly, A. Kunselman, U. A. Leuenberger, and L. I. Sinoway Influence of sex and active muscle mass on renal vascular responses during static exercise Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2006; 291(1): H121 - H126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. P Fisher and M. J White Muscle afferent contributions to the cardiovascular response to isometric exercise Exp Physiol, November 1, 2004; 89(6): 639 - 646. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. L. Hanna and M. P. Kaufman Role played by purinergic receptors on muscle afferents in evoking the exercise pressor reflex J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2003; 94(4): 1437 - 1445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. R. Wright, D. I. McCloskey, and R. C. Fitzpatrick Effects of systemic arterial blood pressure on the contractile force of a human hand muscle J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2000; 88(4): 1390 - 1396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. M. Galvez, J. P. Alonso, L. A. Sangrador, and G. Navarro Effect of muscle mass and intensity of isometric contraction on heart rate J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2000; 88(2): 487 - 492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. R. Wright, D. I. McCloskey, and R. C. Fitzpatrick Effects of muscle perfusion pressure on fatigue and systemic arterial pressure in human subjects J Appl Physiol, March 1, 1999; 86(3): 845 - 851. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. Iellamo, M. Massaro, G. Raimondi, G. Peruzzi, and J. M. Legramante Role of muscular factors in cardiorespiratory responses to static exercise: contribution of reflex mechanisms J Appl Physiol, January 1, 1999; 86(1): 174 - 180. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |