Abstract
The acquisition of efficient performance is an important issue in physical therapy. It is reported that synchronization phenomenon (Cardiac-Locomotor Synchronization: CLS) of cardiac rhythms and locomotor rhythms is observed when humans exercise rhythmically. What is the physiological significance of CLS? It has been estimated that the blood flow volume is maximized to exercising skeletal muscle, the cardiac load minimized, and stroke volume increased with an increase in venous return. Moreover, a recent study suggested that CLS shows coordination between the cardiovascular system and active muscle during rhythmic exercise. Therefore, there is a possibility that CLS can be utilized in physical therapy to optimize the circulation of blood during exercise. In this review, we report on methods of analysis, occurrence mechanism, and the physiological significance of CLS in the literature after 2001, and the possibility of its application in physical therapy.
