Muscle blood flow during exercise: The limits of reductionism

Michael J. Joyner, David N. Proctor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper attempts to integrate some important concepts about the various mechanisms that are thought to cause blood flow to rise during rhythmic exercise. Mechanisms including the muscle pump, substances released by skeletal muscle, substances transported by blood, and factors released by nerves have been postulated to contribute to the rise in muscle blood flow during exercise. Additionally, the factors that initiate the dilation may not be those which sustain it. Although there is normally a close relationship between contractile activity, metabolic rate, and muscle blood flow, this relationship can be disrupted under a variety of circumstances and the active skeletal muscle overperfused. This delinking of flow and metabolism raises important questions about the nature of the vasodilating substances responsible for the rise in blood flow during exercise. We propose that understanding the mechanisms responsible for the 'delinking' of flow and metabolism, along with a more synergistic view of current concepts, can provide new insight into the mechanisms which govern exercise hyperemia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1036-1040
Number of pages5
JournalMedicine and science in sports and exercise
Volume31
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1999

Keywords

  • Active Hyperemia
  • Vasodilation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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