Study objectives: To assess the effects of leg-press (LP) exercise performe
d with a brief (2 to 3 s) Valsalva maneuver on left ventricular (LV) systol
ic function and LV wall stress in five healthy men (mean +/- SD age, 27.6 /- 2.9 years).
Methods and measurements: Subjects performed submaximal (80% one repetition
maximum [IRM], 337.9 +/- 109.1 kg; 95% 1RM, 400.6 +/- 129.8 kg) and maxima
l LP exercise (420 +/- 118.6 kg) during which central arterial pressure, in
trathoracic pressure, and two-dimensional echocardiographic analysis of LV
systolic function and LV wall stress were measured.
Results: Compared with baseline, LP exercise resulted in an increase in int
rathoracic pressure (baseline, 1.7 +/- 2.9 mm Hg; 80% 1RM, 111.7 +/- 20.2 m
m Hg; 95% IRM, 112.2 +/- 21.1 mm Hg; 100% 1RM, 111.0 +/- 21.3 mm Hg; p < 0.
05) and LV end-systolic pressure (baseline, 120.0 +/- 13.2 mm Hg; 80% 1RM,
251.6 +/- 15.3 mm Hg; 95% 1RM, 255.3 +/- 12.2 mm Hg; 100% 1RM, 242.8 +/- 16
.5 mm Hg; p < 0.05) with no changes in LV end-systolic transmural pressure
(baseline, 118.3 +/- 12.6 mm Hg; 80% 1RM, 140.0 +/- 6.1 mm Hg; 95% 1RM, 143
.1 +/- 16.1 mm Hg; 100% 1RM, 131.8 +/- 29.7 mm Hg; p > 0.05), LV end-systol
ic wall stress (baseline, 91.7 +/- 20.2 kilodyne/ cm(2); 80% 1RM, 78.0 +/-
24.4 kilodyne/cm(2); 95% 1RM, 81.4 +/- 25.3 kilodyne/cm(2); 100% IRM, 85.9
+/- 20.1 kilodyne/cm(2); p > 0.05), or LV fractional area change (baseline,
0.48 +/- 0.03; 80% 1RM, 0.52 +/- 0.11; 95% 1RM, 0.53 +/- 0.06; 100% IRM, 0
.52 +/- 0.05; p > 0.05).
Conclusion: LP exercise performed with a brief Valsalva maneuver is not ass
ociated with an alteration in LV wall stress or LV systolic function in hea
lthy young men.