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Int J Sports Med 2002; 23(3): 183-190
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-23177
Physiology and Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Quantitative Effects of Respiration on Venous Return during Single Knee Extension-Flexion

T.  Osada1 , T.  Katsumura1 , T.  Hamaoka1 , N.  Murase1 , M.  Naka2 , T.  Shimomitsu1
  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
  • 2Tokyo Metropolitan Health Promotion Center, Tokyo, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

September 3, 2001

Publication Date:
26 March 2002 (online)

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Abstract

Respiration and the muscle pump play major roles in increasing venous return. However, the relative contribution of each of these factors remains unclear. The present study investigates the quantitative effects of interaction between respiration and the muscle pump on femoral venous blood flow (FVBF) during a single voluntary knee extension-flexion (KEF) using duplex-Doppler ultrasound. During various respiration modes, which consisted of arrested respiration, normal respiration and deep respiration (inspiration or expiration), eight subjects performed a supine one-legged voluntary KEF. FVBF was measured during respiration only (Protocol A) and during KEF synchronized with respiration (Protocol B). The difference between FVBF values obtained in Protocol B and Protocol A was defined as ΔFVBF. When KEF was synchronized with normal or deep respiration, FVBF with inspiration was significantly lower than that with expiration. However, ΔFVBF was significantly higher with inspiration than with expiration during deep respiration but was not significant during normal respiration. Furthermore, ΔFVBF was significantly higher at both normal and deep respiration than at arrested respiration. The effects upon the venous return during KEF differed between inspiration and expiration. The present findings indicate that during a single supine KEF, respiration might promote venous return to a range of 1.5- to 2.3-fold ΔFVBF during arrested respiration.

Key words

Respiration - venous return - voluntary single knee extension-flexion - femoral vein - supine - duplex-Doppler ultrasound

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T. Osada, M. D., Ph. D. 

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