Assessment of resistance vessel function in human skeletal muscle: guidelines for experimental design, Doppler ultrasound, and pharmacology

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

  • Jacqueline K Limberg
  • Darren P Casey
  • Joel D Trinity
  • Wayne T Nicholson
  • D Walter Wray
  • Michael E Tschakovsky
  • Daniel J Green
  • Hellsten, Ylva
  • Paul J Fadel
  • Michael J Joyner
  • Jaume Padilla

The introduction of duplex Doppler ultrasound almost half a century ago signified a revolutionary advance in the ability to assess limb blood flow in humans. It is now widely used to assess blood flow under a variety of experimental conditions to study skeletal muscle resistance vessel function. Despite its pervasive adoption, there is substantial variability between studies in relation to experimental protocols, procedures for data analysis, and interpretation of findings. This guideline results from a collegial discussion among physiologists and pharmacologists, with the goal of providing general as well as specific recommendations regarding the conduct of human studies involving Doppler ultrasound-based measures of resistance vessel function in skeletal muscle. Indeed, the focus is on methods used to assess resistance vessel function and not upstream conduit artery function (i.e., macrovasculature), which has been expertly reviewed elsewhere. In particular, we address topics related to experimental design, data collection, and signal processing as well as review common procedures used to assess resistance vessel function, including postocclusive reactive hyperemia, passive limb movement, acute single limb exercise, and pharmacological interventions.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology: Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume318
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)H301-H325
Number of pages25
ISSN0363-6135
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

ID: 237470887