Hemorheological alterations following an acute bout of nordic hamstring exercise in active male participants¹

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Unver, Fatma^{a; *} | Kilic-Toprak, Emine^b | Kilic-Erkek, Ozgen^b | Korkmaz, Halil^c | Yasin, Ozdemir^b | Oymak, Burak^b | Oskay, Alten^d | Bor-Kucukatay, Melek^b

Affiliations: [a] Pamukkale University, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Highschool, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey | [b] Pamukkale University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Kinikli, Denizli, Turkey | [c] Gedik University, Sport Sciences Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey | [d] Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Isparta, Turkey

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Fatma Unver, Pamukkale University, Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Highschool, Kinikli, 20070 Denizli, Turkey. Tel.: +90 258 296 42 86; Fax: +90 258 296 4000; E-mail: funver@pau.edu.tr.

Note: [1] The research was conducted by Pamukkale University; Laboratory of Physiology and Laboratory of Sport Sciences Faculty.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:The Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) has been proven to be an effective preventive technique for hamstring injuries. Hemorheological parameters (erythrocyte deformability and aggregation) play a critical role in exercise influencing oxygenation. Although previous studies presented hemorheological alterations induced by different types of exercise, changes in red blood cell (RBC) deformability and aggregation following NHE remain unknown. Present study was designed to explore possible alterations in hemorheological and oxidative parameters after an acute bout of NHE. METHODS:10 healthy, male, active students (mean age 19.9±0.23, BMI: 21.56±0.54) participated to the study. They performed a single session of seven-repetitions of NHE followed by a familiarisation period. Blood samples were obtained before and immediately after the exercise from the antecubital vein. Hemorheological parameters were measured by an ektacytometer. RESULTS:NHE did not change deformability, hematocrit and oxidative stress but, increased RBC aggregation index (AI, p = 0.011) and decreased RBC aggregation half time (t½, p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS:Our results suggest that, increased RBC aggregation following an acute bout of NHE may result in increased plasma skimming and thus ease the flow of blood.

Keywords: Nordic hamstring exercise, RBC deformability, erythrocyte aggregation, oxidative stress

DOI: 10.3233/CH-180402

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 463-473, 2019