The decrease in total peripheral resistance is the result of decreased vascular resistance in skeletal muscle vascu- lar beds, leading to increased blood flow. The increase in blood flow to cardiac and skeletal muscle produced by exercise is called exercise hyperemia.

How does exercise affect TPR?

At higher exercise levels, TPR decreased in all age groups. In the upright position, based on a limited number of data, resting TPR and PVR were higher than in the supine position and decreased more prominently during exercise, suggesting the release of resting pulmonary vasoconstriction.

Does peripheral resistance increase during aerobic exercise?

Indeed, aerobic exercise can reduce the blood level of nor-epinephrine which can limit the vasoconstriction of the arterioles and decrease the peripheral resistance to blood pressure. Simultaneously, a slight reduction in sympathetic neural activity may help to modify this decrease in blood pressure.