Remote ischemic preconditioning delays fatigue development during handgrip exercise

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) of one or two limbs improves performance of exercise that recruits the same limb(s). However, it is unclear whether IPC application to another limb than that in exercise is also effective and which mechanisms are involved. We investigated the effect of remote IPC (RIPC) on muscle fatigue, time to task failure, forearm hemodynamics, and deoxygenation during handgrip exercise. Thirteen men underwent RIPC in the lower limbs or a control intervention (CON), in random order, and then performed a constant load rhythmic handgrip protocol until task failure. Rates of contraction and relaxation (Force/Time) were used as indices of fatigue. Brachial artery blood flow and conductance, besides forearm microvascular deoxygenation, were assessed during exercise. RIPC attenuated the slowing of contraction and relaxation throughout exercise (P0.05). in conclusion, RIPC applied to the lower limbs delayed the development of fatigue during handgrip exercise, prolonged time to task failure, but was not accompanied by changes in forearm hemodynamics and deoxygenation.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Brazilian Funding Agency for Studies and Projects (FINEP)Univ Fed Fluminense, Lab Exercise Sci, Dept Physiol & Pharmacol, Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, Sect Exercise Physiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Physiol, Sect Exercise Physiol, BR-04023062 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc