Effect of a brief contraction of forearm muscles on forearm blood flow

Abstract

With the use of a strain-gauge plethysmograph, the effect of a brief (0.3 sec) contraction of the forearm muscles on forearm blood flow has been studied in eight healthy adults. An increase in flow due to dilatation of the muscle vessels could be detected within a second after the completion of the contraction. This increase was proportional to the strength of the contraction. The blood flow was maximal immediately and decreased rapidly. A second contraction of the same magnitude made during the period of increased flow caused an additional increase in flow. The maximal increase in flow caused by a strong brief contraction was only about 25% of that recorded after strong repeated rhythmic contractions or a sustained contraction. Cervical sympathectomy did not change these findings, indicating the local nature of the response. Since breathing oxygen failed to reduce the dilatation for a given strength of contraction, it is unlikely that oxygen lack was the stimulus for vasodilatation. The oxygen saturation of blood that drained the muscles could not be determined accurately immediately after contraction because at this time, muscle venous blood was contaminated by venous blood from the skin. exercise-induced vasodilatation; local mechanism of vasodilatation; venous O2 saturation during muscle contraction; brachial arterial pressure during vasodilatation; speed of muscle vasodilatation Submitted on May 8, 1963