European Journal of Applied Physiology最新文献

{"title":"The myth of the Bayesian brain.","authors":"Madhur Mangalam","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05855-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05855-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Bayesian brain hypothesis-the idea that neural systems implement or approximate Bayesian inference-has become a dominant framework in cognitive neuroscience over the past two decades. While mathematically elegant and conceptually unifying, this paper argues that the hypothesis occupies an ambiguous territory between useful metaphor and testable, biologically plausible mechanistic explanation. We critically examine the key claims of the Bayesian brain hypothesis, highlighting issues of unfalsifiability, biological implausibility, and inconsistent empirical support. The framework's remarkable flexibility in accommodating diverse findings raises concerns about its explanatory power, as models can often be adjusted post hoc to fit virtually any data pattern. We contrast the Bayesian approach with alternative frameworks, including dynamic systems theory, ecological psychology, and embodied cognition, which conceptualize prediction and adaptive behavior without recourse to probabilistic inference. Despite its limitations, the Bayesian brain hypothesis persists-driven less by empirical grounding than by its mathematical elegance, metaphorical power, and institutional momentum.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2643-2677"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479598/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144495377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness: evaluation of reliability and validity of a step test eliminating a step board.","authors":"Fumiko Murai, Rina So, Tomoaki Matsuo","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05786-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05786-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Conventional assessment of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) requires specialized equipment and designated spaces, limiting accessibility. To address this, the modified National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan step test (mJST) was developed for self-assessment without a step board. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of the mJST.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 131 participants (49% female, aged 30-59) were divided into a derivation group (n = 82) to establish an estimated maximal oxygen consumption ( <math><mover><mtext>V</mtext> <mo>˙</mo></mover> </math> O_{2 max}) model using multiple regression, and validation group (n = 49) to test the accuracy of the model. All participants completed the mJST and a  <math><mover><mtext>V</mtext> <mo>˙</mo></mover> </math> O_{2 max} treadmill test. The mJST comprised whole-body exercise for 3min and 40s followed by a 2-min recovery period. Heart rates (HRs) during the mJST were self-recorded using a wrist-worn device and measured via electrocardiograph. Test-retest reliability and validity were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Excellent test-retest reliability was observed with electrocardiograph HRs (ICC = 0.92); however, fair to good reliability was observed with the wrist-worn device (ICC = 0.75). Bland-Altman analysis showed that mJST overestimated  <math><mover><mtext>V</mtext> <mo>˙</mo></mover> </math> O_{2 max} by 1.24 mL·kg^-1·min^-1, likely owing to discrepancies in HR readings from the wrist-worn device. The correlation between estimated and measured  <math><mover><mtext>V</mtext> <mo>˙</mo></mover> </math> O_{2 max} was moderate (r = 0.68).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Eliminating the step board in step tests may aid in regular assessments of CRF to support ongoing health management. Despite limitations in device accuracy, the mJST demonstrated sufficient reliability and validity as a practical tool.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2999-3007"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143980585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of knee and hip flexion angle on region-specific and longitudinal compartmental muscle stiffness of the rectus femoris using shear wave elastography in male bodybuilders.","authors":"Hiroku Mitsuya, Koichi Nakazato, Takashi Okada","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05807-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05807-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To investigate the effects of different knee and hip flexion angles (KFA and HFA) on region-specific and longitudinal compartmental muscle stiffness of the rectus femoris (RF) using shear wave elastography (SWE). As muscle mechanical tension is a key indicator of activation, measurements of muscle stiffness offer new insights into muscle contractile dynamics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Isometric knee extension (KE) was performed by nine male bodybuilders at maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) using a dynamometer under combined conditions of KFA at 30°, 60°, and 90° and HFA at 0°, 40°, and 80°. Muscle stiffness during KE was measured in the RF, vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis (VM) using SWE. The RF and VL were divided into proximal, middle, and distal regions, and the VL, VM, and RF were compared across joint angle conditions and regions. Additionally, muscle activity during the KE was assessed in the proximal, middle, and distal RF using multichannel electromyography (EMG).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Muscle stiffness in the proximal RF was higher at HFA 0° and 40° compared to HFA 80° under KFA 30° conditions (p < 0.05). The stiffness in the middle RF was higher than that in the middle VL at HFA 0° and 40° under a KFA 30° (p < 0.01). EMG revealed no differences across regions or joint angles.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Performing KE with the hip in an extended position enhanced the stiffness of the RF, particularly in the proximal region, compared to the VL. While region-specific muscle activity was observed using SWE, these differences were not detected using EMG.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2793-2804"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143993358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vascular adaptations to blood flow restriction resistance training with different cuff types: the role of retrograde shear stress.","authors":"Lin-Sheng Chen, Natalie McLaurin, Philippe Brosselin, Daniela Charry, Taha Alhalimi, Hirofumi Tanaka","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05795-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05795-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Narrow-elastic bands (NE) and wide-rigid cuffs (WR) are two types of cuffs that are frequently used in blood flow restriction (BFR) training. Because these cuffs produce different hemodynamic responses, vascular adaptations might differ depending upon what cuffs are used. We examined the hypothesis that BFR with NE would improve vascular function while BFR with WR would decrease vascular function.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty-six young healthy participants completed supervised BFR training for 2 weeks with NE placed on one arm and WR on the other arm during upper-body resistance exercise using random arm allocation with counterbalancing across the participants. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD), arterial stiffness, muscle strength, and muscle mass in both arms were measured before and after the intervention. To explore possible mechanisms underlying vascular adaptations, retrograde shear rates (SR) induced by different cuffs in the brachial artery were also measured before the intervention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Muscle strength increased in both arms (p < 0.05). FMD increased in the NE arm (5.6 ± 2.9 to 7.7 ± 3.4%, p = 0.004) but did not change in the WR arm (6.0 ± 2.5 to 4.9 ± 2.7%, p = 0.12). Retrograde SR was higher under WR occlusion compared with NE occlusion and no cuff (no cuff: 22 ± 9, NE: 25 ± 9 vs. WR: 39 ± 13 s^-1, p < 0.001). A negative correlation was found between WR occlusion-induced changes in retrograde SR and relative changes in FMD (r = -0.42, p = 0.02).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Different BFR cuffs led to similar muscle adaptations but different vascular adaptations. The difference in the vascular adaptation between two different cuffs might be explained by a greater retrograde SR induced by WR occlusion.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2885-2896"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143993383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Individuals with chronic low back pain show impaired adaptations of lumbar extensor muscle reflex amplitude during unexpected perturbations.","authors":"Julien Ducas, Audrey Hamel, Guillaume Vadez, Martin Descarreaux, Jacques Abboud","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05797-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05797-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study investigated the adaptability of trunk muscle responses to a series of unexpected external perturbations in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirty-seven adult participants, including 19 without LBP (control group) and 18 with chronic LBP, were submitted to 15 repetitions of trunk perturbations applied in a posterior-to-anterior direction, inducing trunk flexion. High-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) was used to analyze lumbar muscle reflex amplitude. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA (2 × 2) was conducted to compare group differences and the effect of trial repetition over time (first five trials vs. last five trials of perturbations).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant interaction effects were found on both sides (Left: p = 0.038; Right: p = 0.007). Post hoc comparisons revealed a decrease in response amplitude only in the control group between the first and last five perturbations, with reductions of 5.0% on the left side (p = 0.026, Bonferroni corrected) and 5.7% on the right side (p = 0.030, Bonferroni corrected). In contrast, individuals with chronic LBP showed no significant adaptation through repetition in the reflex response amplitude of the lumbar extensor muscles (post hoc both sides: p > 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Individuals with chronic LBP fail to adapt reflex amplitudes to repeated perturbations, possibly due to impaired proprioception, reduced motor variability and neuroplastic changes observed in individuals with chronic LBP. These changes might limit their ability to optimize responses to repeated perturbations, potentially compromising spinal stability and increasing functional cost.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2843-2855"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143998932","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The 'muscular wisdom' fatigue hypothesis: historical perspectives and contemporary challenges.","authors":"Alexander M Zero, Charles L Rice","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05872-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05872-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Identifying mechanisms of force loss (i.e., muscle fatigue) has been of long-standing interest. The muscular wisdom hypothesis (promulgated circa 1970) states the declining motor unit firing rates during a sustained maximal voluntary contraction do not contribute to force loss, but rather, i) lower rates provide appropriate excitation as contractile speed slows with fatigue, and ii) provides protection against peripheral conduction failure. This theory was predominant until further scrutiny and experimental evidence in the ensuing decades made it less clear whether the hypothesis was justified properly. Therefore, a central tenet in our understanding is whether the declining firing rates observed during maximal contractions are causative or preventative of force loss. Here we provide a historical perspective of the studies antecedent to the original hypothesis and an up-to-date comprehensive review of the factors involved. Overall, we summarize and evaluate the evidence as to whether force loss during maximal contractions is due to inadequate neural input or impairments in peripheral contractility. Alterations in motor unit function, (as 'the final common pathway') are the focus to explore these concepts from an integrated approach. Although some aspects may have been originally overstated, due mostly to a lack of a fuller understanding of various factors at the time, we conclude the decline in motor unit firing rates are preventive and not causative of force loss during sustained maximal contractions. Overall, the muscle wisdom hypothesis is a classic example of the capable adjustments in response to stress by mitigating impairments at one site through adaptations at another.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2709-2739"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144539682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of menopause on responses to hypoxia and incidence of acute mountain sickness.","authors":"Tom Citherlet, Antoine Raberin, Giorgio Manferdelli, Grégoire P Millet","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05790-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05790-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Menopause results in decreased ovarian hormones, potentially impacting physiological responses to hypoxia and its tolerance. This study explored menopause's influence on physiological responses during rest and exercise in normobaric hypoxia and its role in predicting acute mountain sickness (AMS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Thirteen eumenorrheic women in their mid-luteal phase (EW, age = 32 ± 8 year) and fifteen postmenopausal women (PW, age = 63 ± 2 year) were examined on two occasions. Their ovarian hormonal levels were measured. In the first visit, hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR), physiological responses (ventilation, pulse oximetry, and heart rate) at rest and exercise in normobaric hypoxia (F_iO₂ = 0.14) and anxiety levels were tested. On the second visit, cortisol awakening response and oxidative stress markers were measured at low altitude, with cortisol awakening response repeated during an overnight stay at high altitude (3375 m) along with evaluation for AMS using the Lake Louise Score, peripheral oxygen saturation and anxiety levels.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>PW exhibited lower estradiol (16.9 ± 16.7 vs 4.6 ± 2.3 pg/ml, p < 0.01) and progesterone (13.39 ± 7.61 vs 0.06 ± 0.07 ng/ml, p < 0.001) levels than EW. Despite higher ventilation at rest in EW compared to PW in normoxia (10.0 ± 1.5 vs 8.5 ± 0.9 L/min; p < 0.01) and hypoxia (9.4 ± 1.3 vs 8.2 ± 1.3 L/min) , HVR (- 0.34 ± 0.13 vs - 0.27 ± 0.15 L/min/%) was similar between groups (p = 0.26). AMS incidence did not differ between EW (31%) and PW (40%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In conclusion, EW had higher ventilation at rest in normoxia and normobaric hypoxia compared to PW, but similar responses and AMS incidence at high altitude. Age has minimal impact on HVR in women.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2857-2867"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479585/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143997292","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exercise-induced extracellular vesicles mediate apoptosis in human colon cancer cells in an exercise intensity-dependent manner.","authors":"Berkay Ozerklig, Ibrahim Turkel, Merve Yilmaz, Refika Dilara Vaizoglu, Handan Sevim Akan, Z Gunnur Dikmen, Ayesha Saleem, Sukran Nazan Kosar","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05787-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05787-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regular exercise reduces the incidence and improves the prognosis of many cancer types, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Evidence suggests that exercise exerts its therapeutic effects through extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are essential for cellular communication. Here, we hypothesized that exercise-induced EVs from serum of healthy individuals would exert anti-tumorigenic effects on human colon cancer HT-29 cells, in an exercise intensity-dependent manner. Ten healthy young active males participated in a randomized crossover trial, completing two workload-matched acute exercise bouts, moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) and high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), on a cycle ergometer. A control session of rest (PRE) was included. EVs were isolated from serum samples collected during PRE and immediately after each exercise session. EVs were co-incubated with HT-29 colon cancer cells, and the effects on cell viability, migration, and apoptosis were measured. EV treatment reduced cell viability in all groups (PRE, MICE, and HIIE) by 35%, 43% and 47%, respectively, vs. PBS. HIIE-EVs showed a significantly greater reduction in cell viability vs. PRE; therefore, only these groups were used for further analysis. PRE EVs reduced migration by 27%, and HIIE-EVs by 39%. HIIE-EVs increased expression of pro-apoptotic markers: Bax/Bcl-2 ratio by 56% and Caspase 3 by 30% vs. PBS, with no change observed in the PRE group. Further, 16% of cells in PRE and 28% of cells in HIIE were TUNEL-positive, indicating DNA fragmentation. To our knowledge, this is the first human study that illustrates the therapeutic potential of exercise-induced EVs in cancer treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2831-2842"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479696/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143976581","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Regional differences in amplitude and spatial homogeneity of muscle activity in the biceps femoris long head.","authors":"Alexander Fassbender, Kiros Karamanidis, Wolfgang Potthast","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05783-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05783-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Hamstring injuries, particularly in the proximal Biceps femoris long head (BFlh), remain frequent in sports involving sprints and accelerations despite extensive research. Non-uniform muscle activity may contribute to these injuries by causing uneven load distribution. This study examines spatial homogeneity of muscle activity and amplitude in the proximal and distal BFlh at different knee flexion torque levels and muscle-tendon unit (MTU) lengths under controlled isometric conditions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Fifteen male recreational athletes performed unilateral isometric knee flexion contractions at three MTU lengths (0°, 45°, 90° hip flexion) and torque levels (30% _MVC90, 60% _MVC90, 90%_MVC90) with high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) assessing proximal and distal activity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The proximal BFlh exhibited lower spatial homogeneity and amplitude compared to the distal region across all conditions, with the largest homogeneity differences at lower torques and longer MTU lengths. Proximal homogeneity increased with torque and decreased with MTU length, while the distal region remained consistent. Amplitudes were lower proximally and decreased with MTU length in both regions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The proximal-distal differences in spatial homogeneity and amplitude within the BFlh reflect non-uniform activation patterns along the BFlh and the proximal regions lower spatial homogeneity and amplitude of activation reflect non-uniform patterns, possibly contributing to injury risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"2751-2763"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479621/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143980661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simultaneous assessment of blood flow changes in femoral artery and skeletal muscle microvasculature using pulsed-wave and power Doppler ultrasonography.","authors":"Kazuma Izumi, Kana Shiozawa, Yutaka Kano, Keisho Katayama, Noriko Tanaka, Hiroshi Akima","doi":"10.1007/s00421-025-05813-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s00421-025-05813-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>The purpose of this study was to evaluate blood flow changes in femoral artery and skeletal muscle microvasculature during intermittent submaximal isometric knee extension.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Seventeen healthy young males (19.7 ± 1.2 years) performed intermittent (5 s on, 5 s off) isometric knee extension. Five contractions were performed at each force level of 10%, 30%, 50%, and 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) at random with a 10-min rest between sets. We measured right femoral artery blood flow by pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasonography and intramuscular blood flow in the vastus lateralis of the right mid-thigh by power Doppler ultrasonography, simultaneously. Both femoral artery and intramuscular blood flow were normalized by the peak value for each participant and represented as %Peak. Time-to-peak was defined as the time from the end of exercise to the peak.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>%Peak of femoral artery blood flow was significantly higher than that of intramuscular blood flow at the baseline and following contractions at 10% MVC (P < 0.01). The time-to-peak during the post-exercise of intramuscular blood flow was significantly longer than that of femoral artery blood flow following contractions at 70% MVC (P < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These results indicate that blood flow increases appeared slowly in skeletal muscle microvasculature than in femoral artery after intermittent submaximal isometric knee extension, suggesting that differences in vascular reactivity and blood flow regulation could exist between femoral artery and skeletal muscle microvasculature in healthy young males.</p>","PeriodicalId":12005,"journal":{"name":"European Journal of Applied Physiology","volume":" ","pages":"3021-3031"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479597/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144076892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}