Venous pressure and exercise tolerance.

Compared to the number of contractions obtained when a blood pressure cuff on the upper arm was at zero pressure, inflation of the cuff to pressures ranging between 5 and 40 mm Hg resulted in an augmentation of the number of hand contractions that could be performed prior to the development of ipsilateral severe fatigue or intolerable pain. Cuff pressures of 60 mm Hg reduced the number of contractions below the control level. These results are consistent with the concept that exercise during venous congestion facilitates the washout of the toxic catabolite presumed to be produced during muscular contraction.