A Single Bout of Arm-crank Exercise Promotes Positive Emotions and Post-Exercise Hypotension in Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease

Objective/Background: The objective was to analyze the acute effects of a single bout of arm cranking exercise on affective and cardiovascular parameters in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD). Methods: This was a prospective, controlled, crossover study. Eleven men with symptomatic PAD underwent two experimental sessions in a random order: control or arm crank exercise (15 x 2 minutes bouts of arm crank exercise interrupted by 2 minutes rest intervals). During exercise, ratings of perceived exertion (Borg scale) and affective responses (pleasure/displeasure) were obtained at the first, fifth, tenth, and fifteenth bouts. Before and after the experimental sessions, cardiovascular parameters (blood pressure and heart rate) were obtained. Data were analysed by a two-way repeated measure analysis of variance with significance achieved at p < .05. Results: During the arm crank exercise, patients reported positive feelings of pleasure. During exercise, heart rate (HR) remained within 80-90% of peak HR. Additionally, patients performed arm crank exercise with moderate levels of perceived exertion (Borg rating of 11-13) and with pleasant affective scores (Feeling Scale of +1 to +5). Blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean) increase was lower after arm crank exercise than for control (greatest net effect: -15 +/- 11 mmHg [p <.001]; -9 +/- 5 mmHg [p <.001]; -9 +/- 6 mmHg [p <.001], respectively), while HR increased (greatest net effect: +9 +/- 6 beats per minute; p <.001). Conclusion: A single bout of arm crank exercise promotes pleasurable feelings while reducing blood pressure in patients with symptomatic PAD. (C) 2016 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.