Transitory postural vasomotor dysfunction in the finger after short term hand vibration

Area of Science:

• Physiology
• Occupational Health
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Hand-arm vibration exposure is linked to vibration-induced white finger (VWF).
• Postural changes can affect vasomotor functions, influencing blood flow regulation.
• Understanding the impact of vibration on these functions is crucial for occupational health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the transitory effects of hand vibration on finger vasomotor functions.
• To compare responses in individuals with VWF, those exposed to hand-arm vibration (HAV) without symptoms, and healthy controls (MC).
• To assess specific vasomotor functions including autoregulation, local axon reflex, and central sympathetic reflex.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the 133xenon washout technique to measure skin capillary blood flow rate.
• Assessed vasomuscular autoregulation by raising the finger.
• Evaluated local venoarteriolar vasoconstrictor reflex by lowering the finger.
• Tested central sympathetic reflex by changing body posture from supine to sitting.

Main Results:

• Before vibration, VWF individuals showed increased central sympathetic vasoconstriction.
• Short-term vibration abolished autoregulation and impaired central and local sympathetic reflexes in all groups.
• Vascular functions fully recovered within 30-60 minutes post-vibration across all participants.

Conclusions:

• Vibration-induced white finger (VWF) may be associated with central sympathetic nervous system hyperreactivity.
• Short-term hand vibration causes temporary impairment of digital arterioles in all individuals.
• Postural vasomotor functions demonstrate transient dysfunction following vibration exposure.