The postexercise increase in the threshold for cutaneous vasodilation and sweating is not observed with extended recovery.

The following study was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that an increase in the postexercise onset threshold for cutaneous vasodilation (Th(VD)) and sweating (Th(SW)) would not be observed upon the restoration of baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP). Subjects remained either seated resting for 15 min or performed 15 min of treadmill running at 70% VO2peak followed by either 20- (short) or 60-min (extended) recovery. At the end of each recovery protocol (20 and 60 min) a water perfusion suit was then used to increase mean skin temperature until Th(VD) and Th(SW) was noted. Exercise resulted in an increase in Th(VD) and Th(SW) of 0.24 +/- 0.03 and 0.24 +/- 0.02 degrees C, respectively, above no-exercise for the short recovery (p < 0.05). No increase was measured for the extended recovery. Postexercise MAP was significantly reduced prior to whole-body warming for the short recovery whereas no reduction was measured for the extended recovery. The increase in Th(VD) and Th(SW), measured during the early stages of recovery, is reversed with the reestablishment of baseline MAP.