The muscle pump activity is an important component of venous return. Muscle weakness in the lower limb can decrease the efficacy of the calf muscle pump and compromise adequate venous return. The aim of this study was to propose an experimental model to evaluate the impact of the calf muscular pump influence on peripheral microcirculation. We studied the local microvascular response to isometric calf contraction in the standing position. Six healthy subjects (31± 9 years old) participated in this study after giving informed consent. After standing for 5 minutes, subjects performed 1 minute of maintained isometric plantar flexion with both feet before resuming the original position for another 5 minutes. Local (foot) perfusion was evaluated with photoplethysmography (PPG) and laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), pulse rate (PR) obtained from the PPG, and calf muscle activity was followed by electromyography (EMG). Nonparametric statistics were used for phase comparisons. During calf pump activity we observed significant differences of wave PPG and LDF amplitude with a rapid replacement after calf muscle contraction stopped. Pulse rate did not change during the three protocol phases. Thus, this proposed model appears suitable to further explore the role of the muscular pump activity on the peripheral microcirculation.
Background. Besides the functional benefits, physical activity triggers a hormonal pattern of immunologic responses with an anti-inflammatory effect in individuals who suffer from multiple sclerosis. Purpose. To analyze the influence of physical activity on multiple sclerosis and identify the intensity threshold which triggers the anti-inflammatory physiological mechanism. Methodology. A systematic review was made on the databases Medline, PubMed, ScienceDirect, PloS, PEDro, and Web of Science. Studies from references of retrieved articles were also collected. The criteria included studies published in English and random studies referred to the inflammatory process, connected with physical activity in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The studies were methodologically analyzed by two reviewers according to PEDro scale. Results and Discussion. Five random control trial studies were identified. The results revealed that with physical activity there seems to have a modulation on anti-inflammatory cytokines which improve physical and cardiorespiratory performance. More investigation is required. Conclusions. Physical activity influences the quality of life and it seems to stimulate the presence of anti-inflammatory cytokines. With light physical activity the cellular activity is lower, while with moderate activity there seems to have more capacity to help in the resolution of an inflammatory situation.
Introduction:The human lower limb is widely used as a model to study in vivo microcirculatory physiology and pathophysiology. It is a preferential target for critical comorbidities (overweight, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease). Movement and activity are consistently regarded as beneficial, but the related adaptive physiology is still poorly understood. Our goal was to better identify the foot microcirculatory changes after a regular walking gait activity in healthy subjects of different ages. Methods: Twelve healthy participants of both sexes, with normal BMI and Ankle-Brachial Index, were selected and grouped according to agegroup I (21.0 ± 1 y.o.) and group II (55.8 ± 3 y.o.). The protocol involved 2 phases of 5-min duration each -phase 1, a static standing position, and phase 2, 5-min walking with a comfortable pace on a pre-established circuit. Perfusion changes were assessed in the dorsal region of both feet before (baseline, phase 1) and after (phase 2) the gait period by noninva-sive optical technologies -laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), photoplethysmography, and polarized spectroscopy (PSp). Comparative statistics were performed with a 95% confidence level. Results: All instruments detected an asymmetric nonsignificant perfusion between right and left feet during rest in all participants with values in females consistently lower than men. Older participants exhibited lower baseline values than the younger group. Gait evoked a perfusion reduction in all participants relative to phase 1 detected with all technologies, with statistically significant changes recorded with LDF (group I, p = 0.033, and group II, p = 0.028) and PSp (group II, p = 0.041). Furthermore, LDF revealed that gait significantly reduced perfusion velocity in the older group (p = 0.003). Corresponding changes in the younger group were present but discrete. Recovery to baseline levels was also slower in the older group. Discussion/ Conclusions: Our results confirm that perfusion is age dependent and demonstrate the clinical relevance of simple dynamic activities such as gait. This reduction of the dorsal foot perfusion occurs in depth, being more pronounced with the movement intensity, suggesting a wide application potential in early diagnostics as for rehabilitation.
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