Psychophysiological profiles in response to various challenges during recovery from acute aerobic exercise

Cardiovascular and sympathetic profiles in response to a series of physical and mental challenges were examined during recovery from an acute bout of aerobic exercise performed at 60% VO2,max for 30 min. 9 healthy men were tested on two occasions, once under an experimental (exercise) and once under a control (video watching) condition, in a counter-balanced order, one week apart. Although no differences in blood pressure were found in the two conditions, heart rate and plasma catecholamine concentrations were higher in the exercise than in the control session. These findings were partly attributed to elevated physiological levels 'carried over' from exercise. State anxiety and anger-hostility, however, were lower in the post-experimental period than in the pre-experimental period. The results are discussed in terms of their relevance to exercise and stress psychophysiology.