AFAA Personal Trainer Certification Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Certification!

The Valsalva maneuver primarily impacts altered blood pressure and heart rate due to the changes in thoracic pressure that occur during the process. When a person performs this maneuver, they take a deep breath and forcibly exhale against a closed airway, which creates intrathoracic pressure. This increased pressure can momentarily affect venous return to the heart, leading to fluctuations in cardiac output and subsequent changes in blood pressure.

As the maneuver is performed, there is often an initial increase in blood pressure due to the compression of the thoracic vessels, followed by a drop once the pressure is released and blood flow resumes. This process can also influence heart rate as the body compensates for the fluctuations in blood pressure. Overall, understanding how the Valsalva maneuver affects these physiological parameters is crucial, especially in a fitness context, as it can influence exercise performance and safety.