EFFECTS OF DYNAMIC EXERCISE ON SUBCUTANEOUS OXYGEN-TENSION AND TEMPERATURE

Exercise influences blood flow distribution and may thereby influence tissue oxygen. Given that experimental evidence suggests exercise impr oves wound healing, this study was undertaken to determine the effect of exercise on subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension (PscO2). Subjects pe rformed a treadmill test to maximum oxygen consumption (VO2) while Psc O2 and subcutaneous temperature (Tsc) were measured using a tonometer and optode/thermocouple system. There were no significant differences in PscO2 between measurement points. Mean Tsc had increased 4.8% at ma ximum VO2, and 6.3% as the cool-down period ended and differed signifi cantly across the exercise period. Changes in PscO2 and Tsc were not c orrelated. Oxygen availability was neither enhanced nor significantly reduced by exercise. However, PscO2 did not increase as expected in re lation to increases in Tsc. Further study will determine the purported beneficial effects of exercise and the mechanism by which it may affe ct wound healing. (C) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.