The la-z-boy position and muscle blood flow in the lower limbs.
Patients are encouraged to sit upright in bed after surgery in order to reduce the risk of pulmonary complications. Adjusting the hospital bed to place the patient in the la-z-boy position minimizes the work of nursing staff in maintaining the patient in an upright position. This study was designed to answer concerns that the la-z-boy position might impair muscle blood flow in the lower limbs and thereby predispose patients to venous thrombosis. In 11 healthy volunteers the authors measured and compared blood flow from the gastrocnemius muscle in the la-z-boy position and in the more conventional straight-leg position. There was no clinically or statistically significant difference in blood flow in the two positions.
D000328:Adult; D001513:Beds; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011187:Posture; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000517:prevention & control