Is there enhanced lymphatic function in upper body trained females?

• Main Author: Dolan, Lianne B.
• Language: English
• Published: University of British Columbia 2011
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/32394

Chronic physical activity has been shown to ameliorate various aspects of human physiology, while specific training can directly influence structural changes. It remains unknown i f chronic exercise influences upper extremity lymphatic function in females; thus, the purpose of this cross-sectional study was to compare different exercise stresses on lymphatic function in ten upper body trained females (mean (SD): age= 26.9 (SD 4.4) yrs; ht= 165.0 (SD 11.2) cm; wt= 62.1 (SD 11.8) kg; VO2 = 35.0 (SD 3.2) ml•kg[superscript omitted]-min[superscript omitted]) with ten untrained females (age= 31.0 yrs (SD 6.0); ht= 168.1 (SD 6.5); wt= 69.5 (SD 14.7) kg; V02= 22.2 (SD 4.8) ml•kg[superscript omitted]-min[superscript omitted]). Participants underwent a maximal upper body aerobic test on an arm crank ergometer before undergoing three randomly assigned lymphatic stress tests. Lymphoscintigraphy was used to quantify lymphatic function. [superscript omitted]Tc-antimony colloid was injected into the third web space of each hand followed by 1 minute spot views taken with a γ-radiation camera. Axillary acquisitions occurred at 18 (SD 5) and 64 minutes. The maximal stress test required individuals to repeat their initial maximal exercise test and then be imaged every 10 minutes until 60 minutes was reached. The submaximal stress test involved arm cranking for 2.5 minutes at 0.6 W-kg[superscript omitted] followed by 2.5 minutes of rest, repeated for 60 minutes. The final stress test was a 60 minute seated resting session. The amounts cleared at the hand (AC) and axillary uptake (Ax) were determined. Four 2X3 ANOVAs were used to test for statistical significance between the two groups and three lymphatic stress tests. Only Ax post maximal exercise was significantly different between trained and untrained, p=0.009. All other measures of lymphatic function between groups were similar. Exercise had a significant impact on lymphatic function: maximal AC was significantly higher at 10 minutes (p=0.000) while submaximal AC was significantly higher at 60 minutes, (p=0.000). Compared to rest, exercise Ax was significantly greater (p=0.000) but the exercise stress, (maximal or submaximal), Ax at 64 minutes did not significantly differ (p=0.426). This study demonstrates no significant difference between upper body trained and untrained females while exercise stress significantly increased Ax and AC. === Education, Faculty of === Kinesiology, School of === Graduate