Study of the Effect of Physical Stress on Coronary Flow Velocity Using Transthoracic Pulse Doppler Echocardiography

Abstract

The relationship between muscle stress (MS) or exercise stress (ES) was examined in 20 healthy young volunteers (all male, 22.9 ± 4.8 years old, mean ± SD) through cardiopulmonary exercise testing and coronary flow velocity (CFV). A heart lung function measuring system was used to conduct expiration gas analysis through isokinetic testing, a training system for MS and a treadmill for ES. CFV was measured using an ultrasound diagnostic device before and after MS and ES loadings. CFV showed a significant increase for both MS and ES (p<.01 for both), and rate pressure product (RPP) similarly showed a significant increase (p<.001 for both). The relationship between CFV and expiration gas analysis etc., showed weak correlation only between CFV after loading MS and knee extension muscle strength (r=.56, p<.01). This indicates that CFV increases with ES and MS. Nonetheless, since no correlation was observed between CFV and RPP, further examinations are required with an increased number of volunteers.