Nonthermoregulatory control of cutaneous vascular conductance and sweating during recovery from dynamic exercise in women.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of 1) active (loadless pedaling), 2) passive (assisted pedaling), and 3) inactive (motionless) recovery modes on mean arterial pressure (MAP), cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), and sweat rate during recovery after 15 min of dynamic exercise in women. It was hypothesized that an active recovery mode would be most effective in attenuating the fall in MAP, CVC, and sweating during exercise recovery. Ten female subjects performed 15 min of cycle ergometer exercise at 70% of their predetermined peak oxygen consumption followed by 20 min of 1) active, 2) passive, or 3) inactive recovery. Mean skin temperature (Tsk), esophageal temperature (Tes), skin blood flow, sweating, cardiac output (CO), stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR), total peripheral resistance (TPR), and MAP were recorded at baseline, end exercise, and 2, 5, 8, 12, 15, and 20 min postexercise. Cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was calculated as the ratio of laser-Doppler blood flow to MAP. In the active recovery mode, CVC, sweat rate, MAP, CO, and SV remained elevated over inactive values (P < 0.05). The passive mode was equally as effective as the active mode in maintaining MAP. Sweat rate was different among all modes after 12 min of recovery (P < 0.05). TPR during active recovery remained significantly lower than during recovery in the inactive mode (P < 0.05). No differences in either Tes or Tsk were observed among conditions. The results indicate that CVC can be modulated by central command and possibly cardiopulmonary baroreceptors in women. However, differences in sweat rate may be influenced by factors such as central command, mechanoreceptor stimulation, or cardiopulmonary baroreceptors.