The effect of supine cycling and progressive lower body negative pressure on cerebral blood velocity responses

Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise increases cerebral blood velocity (CBv) primarily due to hyperpnea-induced vasodilation; however, the integrative control of cerebral blood flow (CBF) allows other factors to contribute to the vasodilation. Although lower body negative pressure (LBNP) can reduce CBv, the exact LBNP intensity required to blunt the aforementioned exercise-induced CBv response is unknown. This could hold utility for concussion recovery, allowing individuals to exercise at higher intensities without symptom exacerbation. Thirty-two healthy adults (age: 20-33 yr; 19 females/13 males) completed a stepwise maximal exercise test during a first visit to determine each participant's wattage associated with their exercise-induced maximal CBv increase. During the second visit, following supine rest, participants completed moderate-intensity exercise at their determined threshold, while progressive LBNP was applied at 0, -20, -40, -60, -70, -80, and ∼88 Torr. Bilateral middle cerebral artery blood velocities (MCAvs), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, respiratory rate, and end-tidal carbon dioxide levels were measured continuously. Two-way analysis of variance with effect sizes compared between sexes and stages. Compared with resting supine baseline, averaged MCAv was elevated during 0 and -20 Torr LBNP (q value > 7.73; P < 0.001); however, no differences were noted between baseline and -40 to -70 Torr (q value < |4.24|; P > 0.262). Differences were present between females and males for absolute MCAv measures (q value > 11.2; P < 0.001), but not when normalized to baseline (q value < 0.03; P > 0.951). Supine cycling-elicited increases in MCAv are able to be blunted during the application of LBNP ranging from -40 to -70 Torr. The blunted CBv response demonstrates the potential benefit of allowing individuals to aerobically train (moderate-intensity supine cycling with LBNP) without exacerbating symptoms during the concussion recovery phase.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The current investigation demonstrated that moderate-intensity supine cycling-induced increases in cerebral blood velocities were balanced by the lower body negative pressure-induced decreases in cerebral blood velocity. Although performed in a healthy population, the results may lend themselves to a potential treatment option for individuals recovering from concussion or experience persistent concussion symptoms.