Departament de Biologia Cellular, Fisiologia I Immunologia, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
Department of Health Sciences, Research group in Technology Applied to high performance and health, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Av. d'Ernest Lluch, 32, 08302, Mataró, Spain.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2024 Apr;124(4):1037-1048. doi: 10.1007/s00421-023-05333-x. Epub 2023 Oct 4.
Intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) applies gradual pressure to facilitate lymph and blood flow movement to reduce exercise-induced tissue fluid accumulation and plasma volume loss. This study aimed to evaluate the cardiovascular system response during the recovery with IPC compared with passive recovery (Sham).
Sixteen volunteers (7 females and 9 males) executed a cycling-based exhausting sprint interval exercise (8 × 20 s all out), followed by a 30-min IPC or Sham condition. Participants performed two trials in a randomised, counterbalanced, and crossover design. Several cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure, heart function, and peripheral vascular resistance) were recorded at baseline (5'), through the recovery protocol (30'), and afterwards (5').
The use of IPC during the recovery phase led to a faster recovery, stated in relative values to pre-exercise, in mean blood pressure (102.5 ± 19.3% vs. 92.7 ± 12.5%; P < 0.001), and cardiac output (139.8 ± 30.0% vs. 146.2 ± 40.2%; P < 0.05) in comparison to Sham condition. Furthermore, during the IPC-based recovery, there was a slower recovery in cardiac pressure change over time (92.5 ± 25.8% vs. 100.5 ± 48.9%; P < 0.05), and a faster return to pre-exercise values in the peripheral vascular resistance (75.2 ± 25.5% vs. 64.8 ± 17.4%; P < 0.001) compared to Sham.
The application of IPC after high-intensity exercise promotes the recovery of the cardiovascular system, reducing cardiovascular strain. Future investigations should consider the effects on the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance, such as heart rate variability, to assess further bonds between the use of IPC and autonomous control.
间歇性气动压迫（IPC）对组织施加逐渐增加的压力，促进淋巴和血液流动，从而减少运动引起的组织液积聚和血浆容量损失。本研究旨在评估与被动恢复（假恢复）相比，IPC 在恢复过程中对心血管系统的反应。
16 名志愿者（7 名女性和 9 名男性）进行了基于自行车的耗竭冲刺间隔运动（8×20 秒全力冲刺），随后进行 30 分钟的 IPC 或假恢复。参与者以随机、交叉、平衡的方式进行了两次试验。在基线（5'）、恢复方案期间（30'）和之后（5'）记录了几个心血管参数（血压、心功能和外周血管阻力）。
与假恢复相比，在恢复阶段使用 IPC 可更快地恢复，以相对于运动前的相对值表示，包括平均血压（102.5±19.3% vs. 92.7±12.5%；P<0.001）和心输出量（139.8±30.0% vs. 146.2±40.2%；P<0.05）。此外，在基于 IPC 的恢复过程中，心脏压力随时间的变化恢复较慢（92.5±25.8% vs. 100.5±48.9%；P<0.05），而外周血管阻力恢复较快（75.2±25.5% vs. 64.8±17.4%；P<0.001），恢复到运动前水平。
高强度运动后应用 IPC 可促进心血管系统的恢复，减轻心血管压力。未来的研究应考虑自主控制之间的进一步联系，例如心率变异性，以评估 IPC 使用对交感神经-副交感神经平衡的影响。
