Lymphoscintigraphy to evaluate the effect of high versus low intensity upper body dynamic exercise on lymphatic function in healthy females.

BACKGROUND:Little is known about the acute effects of exercise on the lymphatic system. Thus, the purpose was to determine the effect of low versus high intensity upper body exercise on lymphatic function in healthy females. METHODS AND RESULTS:On separate days, eight females performed either HI: 12 repeated sets of arm cranking for 2.5 min at 0.6 W.kg-1, followed by 2.5 min of rest; or LO: 12 repeated sets of arm cranking for 2.5 min at 0.3 W.kg-1, followed by 2.5 min of rest. One min spot views were taken with a gamma-radiation camera immediately after injection of 99mTc-antimony colloid and every 10 min thereafter to measure the clearance rate (CR) from the first and fourth finger-web of each hand. Radiopharmaceutical uptake in the axillary regions (AX) at 65 min postinjection was also measured. Clearance from the injection sites was linear and expressed as a slope (% administered activity.min-1). HI resulted in significantly greater CR (-0.24%.min-1+/-0.06) than LO (-0.19%.min-1+/-0.05; p=0.003). A similar trend was seen in AX (HI: 6.3%+/-1.6, LO: 4.8%+/-1.1, p=0.004). CONCLUSIONS:The results indicate that an arm cranking protocol of higher intensity is more effective in promoting lymphatic clearance from the hand. Further, the high intensity protocol may be useful in the functional evaluation of the lymphatic system in breast cancer survivors and warrants further investigation.