Muscle sympathetic nerve activity at rest compared to exercise tolerance

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2008-03, Vol.102 (5), p.533-538
• Main Authors: Hautala, Arto J., Kiviniemi, Antti M., Mäkikallio, Timo H., Tiinanen, Suvi, Seppänen, Tapio, Huikuri, Heikki V., Tulppo, Mikko P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anaerobic Threshold - physiology; Athletic Performance; Baroreflex - physiology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Exercise Tolerance - physiology; Heart Rate - physiology; Human Physiology; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - innervation; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Rest - physiology; Running - physiology; Sports Medicine; Sympathetic Nervous System - physiology; Vagus Nerve - physiology
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-007-0618-1

Cardiovascular autonomic function is associated with physical performance and exercise training adaptation. The association between physical performance and sympathetic regulation is not well known. We hypothesized that sympathetic nervous system activity is associated with physical performance among male runners. The study population included 26 healthy male club runners [age 33 ± 5 years, body mass index (BMI) 24 ± 1 kg/m 2 , VO 2max 58 ± 5 ml kg −1  min −1 ; mean ± SD]. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was assessed from the peroneal nerve by the microneurography technique during 5 min of supine rest. Physical performance was assessed by time to exhaustion during treadmill running. The mean resting MSNA was 20 ± 6 bursts min −1 (range 6–34). The mean time to exhaustion was 1,005 ± 136 s (range 720–1260). When the study group was divided into tertiles according to their running performance (866 ± 69, 994 ± 30 and 1154 ± 71 s in time to exhaustion, P