Compliance in the deep and superficial conduit veins of the nonexercising arm is unaffected by short-term exercise

Abstract

The effects of short‐term dynamic and static exercise on compliance (CPL) in a single conduit vein in the nonexercising limb are not fully understood, although prolonged cycling exercise was found to produce a significant reduction of CPL in the veins. In this study, we investigated the cross‐sectional area (CSA) and CPL in the brachial (deep) and basilic (superficial) veins of the nonexercising arm in 14 participants who performed a 5‐min cycling exercise at 35% and 70% of peak oxygen uptake (study 1) and in 11 participants who performed a 2‐min static handgrip exercise at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (study 2). The CSA in the deep and superficial veins at rest and during the final minute of exercise was measured by high‐resolution ultrasonography during a short‐duration cuff deflation protocol. The CPL in each vein was calculated as the numerical derivative of the cuff pressure and CSA curve. During short‐term dynamic and static exercise, there was no change in CPL in either vein, but there was a decrease in CSA in both veins. The simultaneous findings of unchanged CPL and decreased CSA suggest that CPL during short‐term exercise are independently controlled by the mechanisms responsible for exercise‐induced sympathoexcitation in both single veins. Thus, short‐term exercise does not alter CPL in both conduit superficial and deep veins in nonexercising upper arm.

Effect of Acute Dietary Nitrate Supplementation on the Venous Vascular Response to Static Exercise in Healthy Young Adults

“…This study has several limitations. First, the venous vessel is modulated by an active factor that indicates activation of the sympathetic nerve [ 12 , 14 , 15 , 16 ] and by a passive factor that shows the change in volume-flow dependence [ 45 ]. The decrease in limb volume has been reported to reflect the venoconstriction or the elevation of venous tone when the intravascular pressure of the large vein in the limb is maintained at a constant level [ 15 , 16 ].…”

“…Venous tone is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system and changes with physiological stress (e.g., exercise), thereby leading to alterations in venous volume and/or compliance and contributing to the control of circulatory responses (e.g., BP and cardiac output) [ 10 ]. For example, venoconstriction and/or decreased venous compliance occurs sympathetically in the non-exercising limb during exercise [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. In addition to sympathetic control, NO is also an important signaling molecule that contributes to the modulation of venous tone [ 17 , 18 ].…”