Search NASA⌕ Search

Engineering topics

Van Beaumont, W.

Publications and source records attributed to Van Beaumont, W..

Handgrip and general muscular strength and endurance during prolonged bedrest with isometric and isotonic leg exercise training

Measurements of maximal grip strength and endurance at 40 percent max strength were obtained for 7 men 19-21 years of age, 1-2 days before and on the first recovery day during three 2-week bedrest (BR) periods, each separated by a 3-week ambulatory recovery period. The subjects performed isometric exercise (IME) for 1 hr/day, isotonic exercise (ITE) for 1 hr/day, and no exercise (NOE) in the three BR periods. It was found that the mean maximal grip strength was unchanged after all three BR periods. Mean grip endurance was found to be unchanged after IME and ITE training, but was significantly reduced after NOE. These results indicate that IME and ITE training during BR do not increase or decrease maximal grip strength, alghough they prevent loss of grip endurance, while the maximal strength of all other major muscle groups decreases in proportion to the length of BR to 70 days. The maximal strength reduction of the large muscle groups was found to be about twice that of the small muscle groups during BR. In addition, it is shown that changes in maximal strength after spaceflight, BR, or water immersion deconditioning cannot be predicted from changes in submaximal or maximal oxygen uptake values.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Fluid-electrolyte shifts and thermoregulation - Rest and work in heat with head cooling

The effects of head cooling on thermoregulation and associated plasma fluid and electrolyte shifts during rest and submaximal exercise in the heat are investigated. Thermoregulatory responses and plasma volume were measured in four male subjects fitted with liquid-cooled neoprene headgear during 60 min of rest, 60 min of ergometer exercise at 45% maximal oxygen uptake and 30 min of recovery in the supine position at 40.1 C and 40% relative humidity. It is found that, compared to control responses, head cooling decreased thigh sweating and increased mean skin temperature at rest and attenuated increases in thigh sweating, heart rate, rectal temperature and ventilation during exercise. During recovery, cooling is observed to facilitate decreases in sweat rate, heart rate, rectal temperature and forearm blood flow and enhance the increase in average temperature. Cooling had no effect on plasma protein, osmotic or electrolyte shifts, and decreased plasma volume losses. The findings indicate the effectiveness of moderate head cooling for the improvement of human performance during exercise in heat.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Limb blood flow - Rest and heavy exercise in sitting and supine positions in man

The objectives of the study were twofold: (1) to determine the effect of body position (hydrostatic pressure) on total blood flow in active and passive limbs at rest and after severe exercise; and (2) to further evaluate the impedance technique for measurement of blood flow. To this end, the effect of body position on the redistribution of total blood flow in active (leg) and passive (forearm) limbs during exercise was determined by measuring total limb impedance (blood flow) in five male and one female subjects in sitting and supine positions with a modified Beckman BR-100 rheograph. The results show that, at rest and after exercise, the supine position induces significantly greater flows in the leg but not in the forearm. With severe exercise, blood flows are increased in both passive and active limbs, so that there is probably no net transfer of blood volume from passive to active muscles. The advantages of the impedance technique over other methods are stressed.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Sweating responses during heat acclimation and moderate conditioning

Experiments were conducted on ten young male subjects to determine sweating onset, distribution, and patterns as well as the relationships of these responses to body temperature during heat acclimation and moderate conditioning performed in temperate (24 C) conditions. The subjects are randomly assigned to two groups of five subjects each. The experimental period consisted of eight successive days of either graded exercise to exhaustion on a bicycle ergometer in heat (acclimation group) or in a temperate environment (control group). Major conclusions are that (1) acclimation and conditioning result in relatively more sweat rate on the limbs than on the torso, but that these changes are less related to body temperature than torso sweat rate; and (2) sweating sensitivity increases during acclimation and conditioning, but its contribution to heat acclimation is minor.

Shvartz, E.↗

Plasma volume and electrolyte shifts with heavy exercise in sitting and supine positions

An experimental study was carried out to compare fluid and electrolyte shifts after heavy exercise performed by four voluntary male subjects (26-45 yr) in sitting and supine positions. Plasma volume and electrolyte shifts were measured during the 6-min control period and for 60 min after a continuous peak oxygen uptake test. The results indicate that the most likely driving force for the restitution of plasma volume after peak exercise is provided by a change in hydrostatic and/or systemic blood pressures when exercise ceases.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Effect of sodium and calcium ingestion on thermoregulation during exercise in man

The effects of hypertonic sodium and calcium ingestion on body temperature during exercise in cool and hot environments are investigated. Rectal and mean skin temperatures, sweat rates and arm and leg total blood flows were measured in men during periods of rest, submaximal exercise and recovery at temperatures of 26.5 C and 39.4 C after ingestion of NaCl and CaCl2 solutions. In both environments, higher rectal temperatures are observed after hypertonic sodium ingestion, which is also associated with attenuated blood flow in the extremities, lower sweat rates and slightly higher skin temperature in the heat, indicating significant thermoregulatory responses. Hypertonic calcium and isotonic sodium cause no temperature change, although calcium caused a reduction of blood flow in the extremities.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Fluid and electrolyte shifts during bed rest with isometric and isotonic exercise

It is difficult to separate the effects of reduction in hydrostatic pressure from that of reduced energy expenditure when investigating the confinement deconditioning problem. Experiments were conducted on seven healthy young men aged 19-21 yr with the purpose of separating these two factors by using isotonic physical exercise during bed rest to provide a daily energy expenditure greater than normal ambulatory levels. Fluid and electrolyte shifts were measured during three two-week bed rest periods, each of which being separated by a three-week ambulatory recovery period. During two of the three bed rest periods they performed isometric and isotonic exercises to compare their effects on fluid and electrolyte shifts during bed rest. It is shown that during bed rest, preservation of the extracellular volume takes precedence over maintenance of the plasma volume and that this mechanism is independent of the effects of isometric or isotonic exercise.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

+Gz tolerance in man after 14-day bedrest periods with isometric and isotonic exercise conditioning

The effects of isometric and isotonic exercise training on post-bedrest +Gz tolerance were determined. In general, 14-day bedrest resulted in a significant loss of Gz tolerance, as previously discovered. At 2.1 Gz, neither the isometric nor the isotonic exercises regimens resulted in a significant increase in post-bedrest Gz tolerance. However, following isometric exercise, restoration of about half the tolerance decrement occurred at 3.2 Gz and 3.8 Gz. Possible reasons for this partial restoration of tolerance are put forward.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Red cell volume with changes in plasma osmolarity during maximal exercise.

The volume of the red cell in vivo was measured during acute changes in plasma osmolarity evoked through short (6 to 8 min) maximal exercise in six male volunteer subjects. Simultaneous measurements of mean corpuscular red cell volume (MCV), hematocrit, blood hemoglobin, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and plasma osmolarity showed that there was no change in the MCV or MCHC with a concomitant rise of nearly 6% in plasma osmolarity. Apparently, in vivo, the volume of the red cell in exercising healthy human subjects does not change measurably, in spite of significant changes in osmotic pressure of the surrounding medium. Consequently, it is not justified to correct postexercise hematocrit measurements for changes in plasma osmolarity.

Van Beaumont, W.↗

Effects of rehydration on +Gz tolerance after 14-days' bed rest.

Investigation of the magnitude of reduction in human tolerance to centrifugation following 2 weeks of bed rest with moderate daily exercise. The degree of hypovolemia associated with these exposures is assessed, and the possibility to improve or to return to control levels the tolerance to acceleration forces acting in the head-to-foot direction through rehydration prior to acceleration is explored.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Changes in total plasma content of electrolytes and proteins with maximal exercise.

To determine to what extent the increases in concentration of plasma proteins and electrolytes with short maximal work were a result of hemoconcentration, the changes in plasma volume and total content of the plasma constituents were simultaneously evaluated. The results obtained from six human subjects indicated that in comparison to preexercise values there was a net decrease in total content of plasma protein, sodium, and chloride in the first 2 min of the postexercise period, due primarily to a significant loss (13-15%) of plasma fluid. The total plasma potassium content was increased immediately after exercise but was significantly below the preexercise plasma content after 2 min of recovery.

Van Beaumont, W.↗

Erythrocyte volume in acidified venous blood from exercising limbs.

Five male volunteers performed arm exercises in the sitting position by cranking the pedals of a bicycle ergometer at 50 revolutions per min. The initial mechanical work load of 0 kgm/min was increased every minute by 75 kgm/min until exhaustion occurred. The data obtained show a significant acidification of the venous blood from the working arms and a substantial increase in venous pCO2 during this type of muscular activity. However, the erythrocyte volume remained unaltered during the exercise.

Van Beaumont, W.↗

Disproportional changes in hematocrit, plasma volume, and proteins during exercise and bed rest.

The interrelationships between the changes in plasma volume, hematocrit, and plasma proteins during muscular exercise and bed rest were investigated. Proportionally, the changes in hematocrit are always smaller than the changes in plasma volume. For this reason changes in the concentration of blood constituents can only be quantitated on the basis of plasma volume changes. During short periods of intensive exercise, there was a small loss of plasma proteins. With prolonged submaximal exercise there was a net gain in plasma protein, which contributes to stabilization of the vascular volume. Prolonged bed rest induced hypoproteinemia; this loss of plasma protein probably plays an important role in recumbency hypovolemia.

Van Beaumont, W.↗

+Gz tolerance after 14 days bed rest and the effects of rehydration.

Measurement of the reduction in centrifugation tolerance after two weeks of bedrest with moderate daily exercise, with an attempt to determine if rehydration improves +Gz tolerance. There were significant reductions in +Gz tolerance during bedrest periods at three acceleration levels. Rehydration resulted in a significant increase in tolerance at 2.1G but it did not restore tolerance to control levels. Rehydration did not affect tolerance at 3.2G and 3.8G.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗

Comparative changes in plasma protein concentration, hematocrit and plasma volume during exercise, bedrest and + Gz acceleration.

Discussion of experiments which indicate that under conditions of a constant red cell volume the proportional changes in hematocrit and plasma volume during exercise are never equal. On the basis of direct measurements and calculated changes of plasma volume it is concluded that during maximal exercise there is a small loss of protein from the plasma. It is clear that changes in content of blood constituents can only be evaluated correctly after determination of changes in plasma volume.

Van Beaumont, W.↗