Effects of Static Posture on Lower Limb Vascular Parameters in Women with Varicose Veins

Abstract

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to assess the effects of maintaining a static posture on lower limb vascular parameters in women presenting varicose veins but no other circulatory problems. METHODS: Subjects (30 to 60 years old women) were divided into 2 groups: the experimental group was composed of women with varicose veins (n=10) and the control group included women without varicose veins (n=10). All subjects had to maintain 4 different static postures for 20 min: sitting, 2 sit-to-stand, and standing postures. The following variables were measured during each posture: lower limb subcutaneous blood perfusion, transcuteneous O2 and CO2 partial pressure, foot temperature and volume, surface EMG of the gastrocnemius, lower limb joint angles, heart/foot distance, O2 consumption, heart rate, and perceived comfort. Physiological variables were compared to perceived comfort in order to assess if the subjects could perceive the physiological changes occurring in their lower limbs during static postures. A mixed model factorial analysis of variance using the independent groups and the repeated postures was used to reveal statistical significant differences. Pearson correlaltions were also calculated between all variables. RESULTS: Correlations amongst physiological variables ranged from low (r=0.52 perfusion vs. foot oedema) to high (r=0.97 heart/foot distance vs. heart rate). Perceived comfort at the feet was highly correlated with the physiological variables (r ranging from 0.75 to 0.99). CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal that the heart/foot distance and the gastrocnemius muscle contraction are most important because of their strong relationship to blood perfusion velocity. Perceived comfort appeared to be more closely related to muscle contraction and energy expenditure than perfusion. Accordingly, subjects had a tendency to adopt a posture less demanding physically without perceiving the differences associated with perfusion, perhaps increasing the risk of circulatory problems in women working in static postures.