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Investigating the impact of passive external lower limb compression on central and peripheral hemodynamics during exercise

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Abstract

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of graduated compression socks (GCS) on enhancing muscle blood flow and oxygenation during exercise and recovery in healthy subjects.

Methods

Twelve healthy volunteers completed a protocol involving baseline, exercise, and recovery periods with and without GCS. Each test was repeated twice to assess repeatability of the results. The applied sock pressure was measured prior to experimentation using a custom pressure sensing system, and modified as necessary using tensor bandages to control the applied load. During each of the experimental phases, blood velocity in the popliteal artery, calf muscle tissue oxygenation, muscle activity, heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, and applied pressure from the sock were measured. Popliteal artery diameter was measured during baseline and recovery periods.

Results

The GCS significantly reduced deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) in the leg during baseline (HHb, p = 0.001) and total blood volume and HHb in the leg during exercise (total hemoglobin, p = 0.01; HHb, p = 0.02). However, there were no differences in leg muscle blood flow velocity or any other variables with and without GCS at baseline, exercise, or recovery. Interestingly, it was found that the local applied sock pressure was very sensitive to the sock application process and, furthermore, the pressure varied considerably during exercise.

Conclusions

No significant changes were observed in measures reflecting oxygen delivery for healthy subjects using GCS during exercise and recovery. Applied sock pressure was carefully controlled, thus eliminating the sock application process as a variable.

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Abbreviations

BL:

Baseline

CO:

Cardiac output

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

EMG:

Electromyogram

EX:

Plantar flexion exercise

GCS:

Graduated compression socks

HHb:

Deoxyhemoglobin

HR:

Heart rate

MVC:

Maximum voluntary contraction

NGCS:

Not wearing graduated compression socks

NIRS:

Near-infrared spectroscopy

O2Hb:

Oxyhemoglobin

ΔP:

Applied sock pressure difference from ankle to knee

ADpop :

Popliteal artery diameter

PBFmean :

Mean popliteal artery flow rate

PBVmean :

Mean popliteal artery blood velocity

REC:

Recovery

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

tHb:

Total hemoglobin

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr. Ivan Beentjes for designing and constructing the pressure measurement system employed in this study. As well, we would like to thank the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology for initiating and supporting the collaborative work in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    Jennifer Book, Chekema N. Prince & Sean D. Peterson

  2. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

    Rodrigo Villar & Richard L. Hughson

Authors
  1. Jennifer Book
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  2. Chekema N. Prince
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  3. Rodrigo Villar
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  4. Richard L. Hughson
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  5. Sean D. Peterson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sean D. Peterson.

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Conflict of interest

This work was supported by a grant from Lockheed Martin Corporation. Additional support was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (Operating Grant No. RGPIN6473-07 to RLH, and RGPIN386282-2010 to SDP).

Additional information

Communicated by Massimo Pagani.

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Book, J., Prince, C.N., Villar, R. et al. Investigating the impact of passive external lower limb compression on central and peripheral hemodynamics during exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 717–727 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3331-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3331-0

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