European journal of applied physiology and occupational physiology
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Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol · Jan 1995
Clinical TrialDoes the threshold of transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide represent the respiratory compensation point or anaerobic threshold?
On reaching the respiratory compensation point (RCP) during rapidly increasing incremental exercise, the ratio of minute ventilation (VE) to CO2 output (VCO2) rises, which coincides with changes of arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). Since PaCO2 changes can be monitored by transcutaneous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2,tc) RCP may be estimated by PCO2,tc measurement. Few available studies, however, have dealt with comparisons between PCO2,tc threshold (TAT) and lactic, ventilatory or gas exchange threshold (VAT), and the results have been conflicting. ⋯ At TAT, power output [P, 294 (SD 40) W], VO2 [4.18 (SD 0.57) l.min.1] and [la(-)] [4.40 (SD 0.64) mmol.l-1] were significantly higher than those at VAT[P 242 (SD 26) W, VO2 3.56 (SD 0.53) l.min-1 and [la(-)]b 3.52 (SD 0.75), mmol.l-1 respectively], but close to those at RCP [P 289 (SD 37) W; VO2 3.97 (SD 0.43) l.min-1 and [la(-)]b 4.19 (SD 0.62) mmol.l-1, respectively]. Accordingly, linear correlation and regression analyses showed that P, VO2 and [la(-)]b at TAT were closer to those at RCP than at VAT. In conclusion, the TAT reflected the RCP rather than VAT during rapidly increasing incremental exercise.
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Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol · Jan 1995
Clinical TrialModulation of the human nociceptive reflex by cyclic movements.
During static conditions the nociceptive reflex is known to vary as a function of, for example, the stimulus position, stimulus intensity, and muscle contraction. The aim of the present human study was to investigate whether the reflex and the corresponding perception of pain are modulated by cyclic movements of the limb involved. Reflexes, evoked by nociceptive electric stimulation of the sural nerve, were recorded from the biceps femoris and the rectus femoris muscles in eight volunteers. ⋯ Knee joint angle recordings showed that the largest angle variations occurred for the dynamic conditions and were only marginally disturbed for the isometric conditions. A given stimulus intensity evoked the highest pain intensity during isometric contractions. This indicates that there would seem to be no causal relationship between the size of the nociceptive reflex and the pain intensity.
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Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol · Jan 1995
Clinical TrialDifferences in muscle sympathetic nerve response to isometric exercise in different muscle groups.
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of muscle fibre composition on muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in response to isometric exercise. The MSNA, recorded from the tibial nerve by a microneurographic technique during contraction and following arterial occlusion, was compared in three different muscle groups: the forearm (handgrip), anterior tibialis (foot dorsal contraction), and soleus muscles (foot plantar contraction) contracted separately at intensities of 20%, 33% and 50% of the maximal voluntary force. The increases in MSNA relative to control levels during contraction and occlusion were significant at all contracting forces for handgrip and at 33% and 50% of maximal for dorsal contraction, but there were no significant changes, except during exercise at 50%, for plantar contraction. ⋯ The MSNA increases were in the following order of magnitude: handgrip, dorsal, and plantar contractions. The order of the fibre type composition in these three muscles is from equal numbers of types I and II fibres in the forearm to increasing number of type I fibres in the leg muscles. The different MSNA responses to the contraction of different muscle groups observed may have been due in part to muscle metaboreflex intensity influenced by their metabolic capacity which is related to by their metabolic capacity which is related to the fibre type.