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Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(02): 119-130
DOI: 10.1055/a-1539-6561
Physiology & Biochemistry

Muscle Oxygenation, Neural, and Cardiovascular Responses to Isometric and Workload-matched Dynamic Resistance Exercise

Anastasios Kounoupis
1   Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
,
Konstantina Dipla
1   Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
,
Ioannis Tsabalakis
1   Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
,
Stavros Papadopoulos
1   Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
,
Nikiforos Galanis
2   Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
Afroditi K. Boutou
3   Department of Respiratory Medicine, General Hospital of Thessaloniki G Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Greece
,
Ioannis S. Vrabas
1   Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
,
Ilias Smilios
4   Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini, Greece
,
Andreas Zafeiridis
1   Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
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Abstract

Differences in blood flow patterns and energy cost between isometric and dynamic resistance exercise may result to variant cardiovascular, neural, and muscle metabolic responses. We aimed to compare the cardiovascular, baroreceptor sensitivity, and muscle oxygenation responses between workload-matched, large muscle-mass isometric and dynamic resistance exercises. Twenty-four young men performed an isometric and a dynamic double leg-press protocol (4 sets×2 min) with similar tension time index (workload). Beat-by-beat hemodynamics, baroreceptor sensitivity, muscle oxygenation, and blood lactate were assessed. The increase in blood pressure was greater (p<0.05) in the 1st set during dynamic than isometric exercise (by ~4.5 mmHg), not different in the 2nd and 3rd sets, and greater in the 4th set during isometric exercise (by ~5 mmHg). Dynamic resistance exercise evoked a greater increase in heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and contractility index (p<0.05), and a greater decline in peripheral resistance, baroreceptor sensitivity, and cardiac function indices than isometric exercise (p<0.05). Participants exhibited a greater reduction in muscle oxyhemoglobin and a greater increase in muscle deoxyhemoglobin in dynamic versus isometric exercise (p<0.001–0.05), with no differences in total hemoglobin and blood lactate. In conclusion, large muscle-mass, multiple-set isometric exercise elicits a relatively similar blood pressure but blunted cardiovascular and baroreceptor sensitivity responses compared to workload-matched dynamic resistance exercise. Differences in blood pressure responses between protocols appear small (~5 mmHg) and are affected by the number of sets. The muscle oxidative stimulus is greater during dynamic resistance exercise than workload-matched isometric exercise.

Key words

muscle oxygenation - cardiac output - resistance exercise - static exercise - blood pressure - baroreceptor sensitivity


Publication History

Received: 18 February 2021

Accepted: 15 June 2021

Article published online:
11 August 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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