Exercise and Vascular Physiology - Peripheral Vascular Adaptations to Exercise

Current Projects
Staff and Students
Publications

We are mainly interested in examining the effects of exercise on peripheral vascular function in healthy individuals and special populations such as hypertensives, diabetics, and older adults. Decreased ability of the arterioles to dilate (assessed by strain gauge plethysmography) and increased arterial stiffness (assessed by applanation tonometry - SphygmoCor) have been found in high risk groups such as hypertensives and diabetics. Thus, identification of the early markers of peripheral vascular disease is important as part of a preventative program that uses exercise to reduce peripheral vascular abnormalities.

Current Projects

1. Vasodilatory capacity and augmentation index in offspring of hypertensives
We aim to examine whether healthy young males offspring of hypertensive have already developed peripheral vascular abnormalities, such as decreased vasodilatory capacity and increased arterial stiffness. Vasodilatory capacity is determined through reactive hyperaemia using strain gauge plethysmograph. Arterial stiffness is assessed using non-invasive applanation tonometry.

Strain gauge plethysmography

Applanation tonometry SphygmoCor

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Members of the Research Group

Dr Yati Boutcher
Associate Professor Steve Boutcher (UNSW)
Associate Professor Albert Avolio (Biomedical Engineering, UNSW)
Dr Maria Matuszek
Kai Huang, Honours student

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Selected Publications

Boutcher YN & Boutcher SH. (In press). Limb vasodilatory capacity and venous capacitance of trained runners and untrained males. European Journal Applied Physiology, 2005 Jun 15; [Epub ahead of print] (Published online ISSN: 1439-6327).

Boutcher YN, Hamer M, & Boutcher SH. (2003). The effect of acute plasma volume expansion on venous capacitance. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness, 43(1): 105-110.

Hamer M, Boutcher YN, & Boutcher SH. (2003). The role of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors during the forearm vasodilatation response to mental stress. Psychophysiology, 40: 249-253.

Boutcher SH, McLaren P, Cotton Y, & Boutcher Y. (2003). Stroke volume response of trained and untrained males during upright cycle ergometry. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology, 28 (1):12-26.

Hamer M, Boutcher Y, & Boutcher SH. (2002). Cardiovascular and renal responses to mental challenge in highly and moderately active males with a family history of hpertension. Journal of Human Hypertension, 16: 319-326.

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