Systems and methods for coordinating musculoskeletal and cardiovascular or cerebrovascular hemodynamics

A method for synchronizing a rhythmic musculoskeletal activity cycle (“MSKC”) of a user exercising on an exercise apparatus with a rhythmic cardiac cycle (“CC”) of the user, the method comprising:

• detecting a first signal feature representative of a CC timing of the user using a first detector, the first signal feature repeating at a heart rate of the user;
• detecting a second signal feature representative of an MSKC timing of the user using a second detector, the second signal feature repeating at a cadence of the user;
• determining an actual timing relationship between the CC timing or first signal feature and the MSKC timing or second signal feature using a controller integrated into or coupled to the exercise apparatus;
• determining a difference value between the actual timing relationship and a target timing relationship using the controller;
• and
• adjusting operations of the exercise apparatus in response to a signal from the controller,
• wherein the operations of the exercise apparatus are adjusted to alter the MSKC timing of the user such that the magnitude of the difference value is reduced.