ANKLE SYSTOLIC BLOOD-PRESSURE FOLLOWING SUB-MAXIMAL AND MAXIMAL EXERCISES IN HEALTHY-YOUNG MEN

Although recent studies have compared the effect of progressive exerci se tests to constant moderate work load tests on ankle systolic blood pressure (ASBP) and ankle to arm index (AAI) in claudicants, little is known about the relation of ASBP and AAI to work load in healthy youn g men. Fifteen normal volunteers were asked to cycle 40, 60, 80, 100% of VO2max. Ankle and humeral pressures were recorded simultaneously, a t rest and 1 minute after the end of each test. Thereafter, AAI was ca lculated as the ratio of ankle to humeral systolic pressure. Compared to resting values: 134.8+/-13.9 mmHg, ASBP increased significantly fol lowing sub maximal tests up to 157.8+/-28.1 mmHg (p<0.005), but was no t increased following maximal exercise: 141.5+/-28.2 mmHg (NS). On the other hand, AAI showed a progressive decrease from 1.14+/-0.06 at res t to 1.06+/-0.08 (p<0.005), to 0.98+/-0.07 (p<0.005), to 0.84+/-0.06 ( p<0.005) and to 0.75+/-0.09 (p<0.005) following 40, 60, 80 and 100% of VO2max respectively. In summary, AAI following exercise is inversely related to workload whereas ASBP is not. We suggest that when studying ankle systolic blood pressure response to heavy load exercises, resul ts should always be compared to humeral pressure, and expressed as ank le to arms indexes.