Aim: This study analyzed the effect of additional means of recovery (passive foot movements [PFM] and electrical stimulation [ES]), on peripheral and systemic circulation.
Methods: The subjects were 16 endurance athletes. A period of passive rest (PR), ES and PFM were applied in 3 trials during which arterial blood flow in calf muscles, stroke volume (SV), heart rate (HR) and cardiac output (CO) were recorded. Repetitive exercise loading at 75% of maximum voluntary contraction to exhaustion was performed.
Results: A 15-min period of PR did not appreciably decrease residual fatigue of the exercised muscles, and working capacity during the second physical loading decreased by 84.9+/-28.3 Nm (P<0.05). After ES and PFM, muscle working capacity decreased insignificantly versus the values after the first loadings. After PR, SV (78+/-4.5 mL, P<0.05) and CO (5+/-0.3 L/min, P<0.05) decreased versus baseline values (95+/-6.6 mL and 5.8+/-0.3 L/min, respectively). After additional ES and PFM, SV and CO decreased insignificantly versus baseline values.
Conclusion: ES and PFM improve blood return to the heart. After dynamic exercise, ES and PFM, applied as additional means of recovery, can enhance recovery and restore muscle working capacity.