RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN A RANGE OF TISSUE TEMPERATURE AND LOCAL OXYGEN UPTAKE IN THE HUMAN FOREARM. III. CHANGES OBSERVED AFTER ANAEROBIC WORK, IN THE POSTEXERCISE PERIOD*†

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Abstract
The effects of artificially raising and lowering the temperature of the forearm muscles of normal subjects on the "blood flow" and oxygen debts produced by anaerobic work were studied. At both muscle temperatures the oxygen debt incurred during the physical effort was repaid in the early postexercise period by an increase in blood flow and by a greater than normal extraction of oxygen; but in the later and more protracted period, by an augmentation in circulation alone. At the higher muscle temperature the blood flow response to the exercise was less marked than at the lower, but oxygen extraction per ml. of blood was greater. At the same time, the postexercise oxygen uptake was reduced, despite an increase in resting oxygen uptake. It was concluded that results support the procedures of using local heat preliminary to exercise of limbs in physical medicine, and of "warming-up" customarily practiced by athletes.