Acute effect of brisk walking with graduated compression stockings on vascular endothelial function and oxidative stress

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effect of brisk walking with and without graduated compression stockings (GCSs) on vascular endothelial function and oxidative stress. Ten young healthy subjects walked briskly for 30min with (GCS trial) and without (CON trial) GCSs in a randomized crossover trial. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured as the per cent rise in the peak diameter from the baseline value at prior occlusion at each FMD measurement using B-mode ultrasonography before and 30min after walking in the two trials. Derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM), as an index of products of reactive oxygen species, and biological anti-oxidant potential (BAP), as an index of anti-oxidant potential, were also measured using a free radical elective evaluator before and 30min after walking in both trials. FMD significantly decreased after brisk walking in both trials (P<0·05). However, FMD after brisk walking in the GCS trial was significantly higher than that in the CON trial (P<0·05). The d-ROM did not change before and after both trials, whereas the BAP significantly increased after walking in the GCS trial (P<0·05). These findings demonstrate that brisk walking while wearing GCSs suppresses the decrease in FMD and increases BAP.