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Influence of active recovery following prolonged bed rest on static exercise pressor response
Alan Kacin1, Igor B Mekjavic, Samuel Rodman
1Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, Department of Sports and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom. alan.kacin@ijs.si
Abstract:
The present study investigated the effect of active recovery, following 35 days of horizontal bed rest, on the magnitude and time course of the pressor and heart rate responses to sustained 90 minute submaximal isometric contraction of unilateral knee extensor muscles. Ten healthy male subjects were tested immediately post bed rest (Post BR) and again after 4 weeks of active recovery (Recovery). In both trials subjects sustained an absolute force equal to 30% of Post BR maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Beat-to-beat heart rate (HR) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were monitored continuously during sustained contraction using the volume-clamp technique. Despite a 24% increase in MVC, there were no significant differences in the magnitudes of HR and MAP responses between Post BR and Recovery trials, suggesting a bed rest-induced attenuation of the static exercise pressor response.
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