Effects of vigorous physical exercise on cerebral circulation and metabolism

Abstract

1. 1. The effects of vigorous muscular exercise in the upright posture were studied in thirteen normal subjects and compared with the changes resulting from motionless standing. 2. 2. Exercise resulted in a decrease in cerebral vascular resistance and an increase in cerebral oxygen consumption. The decrease in mean cerebral blood flow which results from motionless standing did not occur with exercise. There was no change in cerebral respiratory quotient. 3. 3. Although exercise resulted in a striking fall in blood carbon dioxide content and pH, no correlations could be made between these changes and the alterations in cerebral circulatory or metabolic functions. There was a close correlation between changes in cerebral vascular resistance and cerebral oxygen consumption, though the reason for this is not known.