Characterising cerebral haemodynamic oscillations during running

Imi, Gabriella Maria (2020). Characterising cerebral haemodynamic oscillations during running. University of Birmingham. M.Res.

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Abstract

Running involves repetitive foot-strikes that induces a ‘beat phenomenon’, identified as a summation of two pressure waves that result in periodic pulse pressure oscillations. To date, only one study has examined this phenomenon to investigate how it affects cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses, reporting that blood pressure oscillations are reflected in CBF (as indexed by middle cerebral artery blood velocity, MCAv). Based on this work, we tested the hypothesis that altering the heel-strike force would impact the amplitude, frequency and duration of MCAv oscillations.
Ten participants completed four exercise sessions: a treadmill maximal oxygen consumption test (i.e. VO2peak), followed by a randomised crossover design of three submaximal exercise sessions: (i) gradient running protocol; (ii) step frequency and foot-strike running protocol, and (iii) 30-minute cycling 65% VO2peak protocol.
Oscillations were present during each running protocol with a variety of oscillatory patterns occurring between participants and between different gradients, running styles and step frequencies. No statistical difference in the oscillatory pattern occurred between submaximal treadmill running protocols (p>.05), while no MCAv oscillations were present during cycling.
Data collectively demonstrated that altering the heel-strike force during running affects the oscillatory pattern in MCAv, albeit not statistically supported from this small sample size.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Res.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Res.

Supervisor(s):