Abstract
Optimal tissue oxygen supply is essential for proper athletic performance and endurance. It also depends on perfusion, so on hemorheological properties and microcirculation. Regular exercise is beneficial to the rheological status, depending on its type, intensity, and duration. We aimed to investigate macro and microrheological changes due to short, high-intensity exercise in professional athletes (soccer and ice hockey players) and untrained individuals. The exercise was performed on a treadmill ergometer during a spiroergometry examination. Blood samples were taken before and after exercise to analyze lactate concentration, hematological parameters, blood and plasma viscosity, and red blood cell (RBC) deformability and aggregation. Leukocyte, RBC and platelet counts, and blood viscosity increased with exercise, by the largest magnitude in the untrained group. RBC deformability slightly impaired after exercise, but showed better values in ice hockey versus soccer players. RBC aggregation increased with exercise, dominantly in ice hockey players. Lactate increased mostly in soccer players, and the respiratory exchange rate was the lowest in ice hockey players. Overall, short, high-intensity exercise altered macro and microrheological parameters, mostly in the untrained group. Significant differences were found between the two sports. The data can be useful in training status monitoring, selection, and in revealing the causes of physical loading symptoms.
Highlights
Hemorheological parameters play a pivotal role in tissue perfusion
Whole blood viscosity is mainly determined by the plasma viscosity, number of blood cells, dominantly red blood cells (RBCs), and microrheological parameters of the RBCs, such as deformability and aggregation [1,3,4]
Short-term, high-intensity exercise by spiroergometry resulted in increased white blood cells and platelet counts (Control: p < 0.001, Soccer players: p < 0.001, Ice hockey players: p < 0.001 vs. before) with hemoconcentration (Hct, Control: p < 0.001, Soccer players: p < 0.001, Ice hockey players: p < 0.001 vs. before)
Summary
Hemorheological parameters play a pivotal role in tissue perfusion. Blood is a nonNewtonian fluid as its viscosity depends on the shear rate. Lowering the shear rate is associated with increasing viscosity values due to the red blood cell aggregation [1,2,3]. Whole blood viscosity is mainly determined by the plasma viscosity (a Newtonian fluid), number of blood cells, dominantly red blood cells (RBCs), and microrheological parameters of the RBCs, such as deformability and aggregation [1,3,4]. RBC aggregation is determined by plasmatic factors (fibrinogen, other plasma proteins, and macromolecules) and cellular features (deformability, morphology, and the composition of the glyocalyx layer) as well as by the shearing forces [1,4,5,6,7]. Impaired RBC deformability and enhanced RBC aggregation increase viscosity, so decreasing blood fluidity, and result in disturbed tissue perfusion, so increasing vascular resistance, and a deterioration in the microcirculation [3,5,13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
