Figure 2. The effect of superimposing reactive hyperemia on the recovery from plantar flexion exercise on the peripheral microcirculation. Tissue oxygenation (upper panel), deoxyhemoglobin (middle panel), and capillary blood flow (bottom panel) kinetics in older subjects. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. Capillary blood flow and tissue oxygenation AUC were significantly greater in reactive hyperemia compared to free flow conditions (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively).