Exercise & Cardiovascular Physiology

Given the central role of the heart and vasculature in underpinning human health and performance it is not surprising that the interaction between exercise and cardiovascular physiology represents an important component of the Exercise and Health Research Group. The use of exercise in the promotion, maintenance and rehabilitation of cardiovascular health has broad public health implications and provides the major rationale for our interest and research output. We interact with researchers working on other Exercise and Health themes as well as other research groups within RISES (Chronobiology and Human Performance). Our specific research activities are outlined below.

Our research team in, collaboration with national and international partners, is investigating the acute effects of prolonged exercise of varying durations, intensities and modes to evaluate two related concepts: Exercise-induced cardiac fatigue and Exercise-induced cardiac damage.  Using a variety of state-of-the-art techniques for cardiac assessment (Doppler, tissue-Doppler, strain ultrasound imaging, cardiac troponin assessment) we are assessing the clinical relevance and physiological mechanisms associated with these two phenomena.

Cardiac structural and functional responses to chronic training stimuli are also of interest from elite-level athletes and the assessment of the “athletic heart syndrome” to interventions in clinical groups where the aim is to improve cardiac function to underpin positive changes in overall functional capacity as well as favourably alter cardiac parameters (e.g. diastolic function) that are clearly linked to cardiovascular disease diagnosis and prognosis.

Atherosclerotic disease of large and small arteries represent the major causes of mortality and morbidity in the developed world.  Exercise and exercise training have significant impacts on both the structure and function of the vasculature.  Our group utilise state of the art techniques, which have been developed and provisionally patented by our group to accurately determine the impact of acute exercise and chronic exercise training interventions on vascular function and structure in vivo.  Outcomes from such studies have a significant impact on the development of optimal exercise training and other medical interventions and management approaches for the prevention of future cardiovascular disease and the treatment of subjects with existing manifestations of cardiovascular disease or risk factors.  Our expertise in the in vivo assessment of vascular structure and function in conduit and resistance arteries, as well as microvessels, provides us with unique and technically unparalleled tools for studies aimed at improving human health.

Edge detection and wall tracking software developed for assessment of conduit artery diameter and blood flow across the cardiac cycle.

Above: B-mode ultrasound image acquisition software. Diameter is calculated using an algorithm of 200-400 parallel lines within the region of interest.  Velocity is calculated via an automatic thresholding algorithm with binary interrogation of each pixel column to detect the waveform envelope. 

Below: Output from the operator-independent software.  The diameter (upper) and velocity (middle) and calculated blood flow (lower) output data, collected at 30 Hz, are displayed. 
This software allows operator independent assessment of conduit artery diameter changes with interventions such as exercise, as well as direct quantitative assessment of blood flow through the artery across the cardiac cycle (~30Hz). 
Conduit and resistance vessel structure and function can therefore be assessed simultaneously in vivo.  It represents a major advance on previously technologies utilised in humans, such as plethysmography (invalid during exercise) and dilution approaches (poor temporal resolution).

Measurement of skin blood flow using laser-Doppler flowmetry, intra-dermal microdialysis and administration of vasoactive compounds.

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