HABITUATION ATTENUATES THE SEX-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ISCHEMIC PAIN, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND ARTERIAL STIFFNESS

Authors

AM Roberts
ZR Lincoln
W Blumenburg
B Cross
J Vondrasek
J Watso
A Flatt
B Linder
A Robinson
G Grosicki

Abstract

Andrew M. Roberts¹, Zoe R. Lincoln¹, Wesley Blumenburg¹, Brett Cross¹, Joseph Vondrasek¹, Joseph Watso², Andrew Flatt¹, Braxton Linder³, Austin Robinson³, Gregory Grosicki¹. ¹Georgia Southern University (Armstrong Campus), Savannah, GA. ²Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL. ³Auburn University, Auburn, AL.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular reactivity (CVR) during physical stress is prognostic for incident cardiovascular disease. CVR is influenced by perceived pain. However, there is limited data on the effect of sex differences and repeated exposures to painful stimuli on CVR. METHODS: We measured blood pressure (BP) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV; an index of arterial stiffness) at rest, during isometric handgrip (HG) exercise at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction, and during post-exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO) during two identical trials in 39 adults (20M/19F; 18-39 yrs). We assessed participants’ perceived pain using a visual analog scale after the first minute of each stimulus. We collected BP during minute two of each stimulus and cf-PWV during minute three of each stimulus. RESULTS: In male participants, we observed moderate associations (Ps≤0.023) between perceived pain and changes in brachial diastolic (r=0.620) and mean BP (r=0.597); central diastolic, mean, and systolic BP (rs=0.519-0.654); and cf-PWV (r=0.680) during PECO in trial #1, but not trial #2 (Ps≥0.162). However, in female participants, there were no associations between pain and CVR indices during either trial (Ps≥0.137). Irrespective of sex, reductions in perceived pain during trial #2 relative to trial #1 were weakly to moderately associated (Ps≤0.038) with reductions in brachial diastolic (r=0.346), mean (r=0.379), and systolic BP (r=0.333); central mean (r=0.400) and systolic BP (r=0.369); and cf-PWV (r=0.526). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest 1) there are sex differences in pain modulation of CVR in young adults and 2) habituation blunts pain and CVR during PECO, irrespective of sex.

Recommended Citation

Roberts, AM; Lincoln, ZR; Blumenburg, W; Cross, B; Vondrasek, J; Watso, J; Flatt, A; Linder, B; Robinson, A; and Grosicki, G (2023) "HABITUATION ATTENUATES THE SEX-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN ISCHEMIC PAIN, BLOOD PRESSURE, AND ARTERIAL STIFFNESS," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 273.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol16/iss2/273