In order to evaluate the effect of muscle pump on blood circulation at the start and end of exercise, cardiac responses to pedaling exercise at 75 watt in the supine position were investigated under lower body negative pressure (LBNP) of -60mmHg. Six healthy male college students volunteered for subjects. Cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV), thoracic impedance (ZO) and heart rate (HR) were determined by using ensemble-averaged impedance cardiogram and ECG.
The results obtained were as follows.
1) By the initiation of exercise under LBNP, SV and Q promptly and more markedly increased and ZO decreased than the control experiment which were done under normal pressure. These changes were suggested to be caused by mobilization of previously pooled blood in the legs by muscle pump. Effects of muscle pump arrived to a plateau within about 30 sec after the start of exercise. And these effects were immediately disappeard by the cessation of exercise.
2) By the release of LBNP during resting condition, the same changes were observed in SV, Q and ZO as in the start of exercise under LBNP. However HR decreased in the case while it increased in the case of exercise in LBNP. This difference in HR might be the result of the chronotropic effects by the exercise.
3) In the very early phase of exercise in the control exercise, SV decreased and ZO increased. These changes were probably caused by superiority of chronotropic action by the exercise to increase in venous return in this position.
These results led us to a conclusion that the effect of muscle pump appeares immediately by the start of the exercise and it arrives at plateau within about 30 sec. This effect is immediately disappeared by the cessation of exercise.