The effect of exercise on the cardio-postural relationship

Syncope is common in individuals who experience orthostatic hypotension which is often associated with cardiovascular conditions, brain injuries, and ageing. A bi-directional link between the cardiovascular and postural control systems was recently identified, and may provide insight into syncope and orthostatic hypotension. This thesis examined the inter-dependent relationship between cardiovascular and postural controls before and after light exercise to induce mild orthostatic stress. It was hypothesized that after exercise, there would be a greater reliance on the skeletal muscle pump to prevent venous pooling to maintain cardiac output and blood pressure, and that this effect would be more pronounced in men. There was an increase in skeletal muscle pump activity which maintained venous return and increased posture stability. In addition, there was a shift in the overall interaction dynamics between the two systems with a greater dependence on posture control to maintain venous return after exercise, particularly in men.