Fig 1. Experimental protocol.

Participants completed supine, rhythmic (1 second contraction: 2 second relaxation duty cycle) forearm handgrip exercise using each forearm. Measurements were monitored over a two-minute baseline period, followed by a three-minute exercise period, followed by a two-minute recovery period. The acquisition of forearm blood flow, mean arterial pressure, forearm vascular conductance and skeletal muscle oxygen saturation occurred during the final 30 seconds of baseline, exercise, and recovery (highlighted in orange).