Study of blood flow parameters measured in femoral artery after exercise: Correlation with maximum oxygen uptake

To study the recovery periods of blood flow parameters in muscles after ana erobic exercise, instantaneous and mean blood flow velocity curves were rec orded in the femoral artery in 22 sportsmen at rest and during the first 4 min of recovery after exercise (Ruffier-Dickson test). A flat ultrasonic pr obe connected to a Doppler system (Flow-Tester) was fixed on the skin at th e level of the common femoral artery. From Doppler recordings, we calculate d periods of recovery (return to baseline) of femoral blood flow velocity ( FBFV RP), heart rate (HR RP) and femoral stroke distance (FSD RP), Also, Ru ffier-Dickson index (RDI), VO(2)max in mL/kg(-1)/ min(-1) and number of tra ining hours were determined. We observed a high correlation between FBFV RP and VO(2)mas (p = 0.0002), and significant correlation between FSD RP and VO(2)max (p = 0.0238) and RDI (p = 0.0451). In conclusion there is a excell ent correlation between blood how velocity recovery period in femoral arter y after moderate exercise and VO(2)max in high-level sportsmen. The method of testing is simple and based on conventional Doppler technique. It can be used for the follow-up of training levels in sportsmen. (C) 2000 World Fed eration for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.