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Published on: March 21, 2013
Squat-stand test response following 10 consecutive episodes of head-up tilt
Narelle M Berry1, Caroline A Rickards, David G Newman
1Aerospace Physiology Laboratory, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia. narelle.berry@unisa.edu.au
Introduction:
The cardiovascular system is adaptable to multiple exposures to gravity over several days, and to repeated exposures in a single day. This study aimed to investigate if the cardiovascular adaptation observed following 10 +75 degrees head-up tilts (HUT) would improve the responses to the squat-stand test (SST).
Methods:
There were 16 subjects who were randomly allocated into either a tilting group that underwent 10 +75 degrees HUTs in 70 min (Tilting) or a control group that underwent 70 min of rest (Control). Before and after HUT or rest, subjects performed a SST (SST1 and SST2, respectively). Heart rate (HR), BP [systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean (MAP)], total peripheral resistance (TPR), stroke volume (SV), and cardiac output (CO) were determined during both SSTs. The final 30 s of squat and the first 30 s of stand (divided into three 10-s blocks termed Stand10, Stand20, and Stand30) were compared between SST1 and SST2.
Results:
In the Tilting condition, during the squat phase of SST2, the following were significantly elevated: SBP (131 +/- 9 to 140 +/- 7.2 mmHg) and MAP (94 +/- 8.7 to 105 +/- 10.2 mmHg); DBP (76 +/- 9.4 to 87 +/- 11.9 mmHg); TPR (1197 +/- 524.6 to 229 +/- 610.5 dyn x s(-1) x cm(-5)) and HR were significantly decreased (78 +/- 6.9 to 73 +/- 7.5 bpm) compared with SST1. At Stand10, DBP and MAP were significantly increased (59 +/- 9.5 to 69 +/- 15.7 mmHg and 74 +/- 8.9 to 84 +/- 14.7 mmHg, respectively); at Stand20, SBP was increased (121 +/- 17 to 128 +/- 22 mmHg); and at Stand30 the following were increased: DBP (64 +/- 8.8 to 75 +/- 16.1 mmHg); SBP (127 +/- 9.2 to 139 +/- 15.8 mmHg); and MAP (79 +/- 8 to 90 +/- 14.9 mmHg). There were no differences observed between SST1 and SST2 in the Control group.
Discussion:
Cardiovascular responses to the SST can be improved with 10 consecutive +75 degrees HUTs. This is predominantly due to an increase in DBP, indicative of a change in vascular resistance.
