Changes of cardiovascular function after lower body negative pressure training

Objective To observe the changes of cardiac function and autonomic regulation after lower body negative pressure training for 10 days. Methods Eight healthy male subjects were exposed to -50 mmHg lower body negative pressure (LBNP) for 10 min every day, lasting for 10 days. Before and after LBNP training, the cardiac pumping function, systolic function and heart rate variability were detected. Results After 10 days of LBNP training, stroke volume, cardiac output and left ventricular ejection time, low frequency component of heart rate variability and the ratio of low frequency component to high frequency component increased significantly compared with those before training (P＜ 0.05). While, total peripheral resistance and pre-ejection time had no changes after LBNP training. Conclusion Ten days of LBNP training is effective in improving cardiac pump and systolic function and in increasing sympathetic nerve tension.