title: Volume changes in the lower leg during quiet standing and cycling exercise at different ambient temperatures.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether ambient temperature influences both the rate of leg swelling during orthostasis and the oedema-preventing effect of the skeletal muscle pump. Using mercury-in-rubber strain gauges, volume changes were measured in the calf (n = 34) and near the ankle (n = 24) in healthy volunteers aged 19-33 years. Measurements were performed during 12 min of motionless standing in an upright posture and during 17 min of cycle exercise at intensities of 50 W and a pedalling rate of 50 rpm. The experiments were done in an air-conditioned chamber at temperatures of 20, 28 and 36 degrees C and 50% relative humidity. The rate of leg swelling, which occurred while standing, did not differ significantly among the three temperatures. The mean increases in calf volume during 10 min (min 2-12) orthostasis were 1.6 (SEM 0.1)%, 1.9 (SEM 0.2)% and 2.0 (SEM 0.2)% at 20, 28 and 36 degrees C respectively. In the ankle region the mean values were 0.9 (SEM 0.1)%, 1.0 (SEM 0.1)%, and 1.0 (SEM 0.1)% at the three temperatures, respectively. Exercising at low temperatures continuously reduced the volume of the leg, but at 36 degrees C the leg volume did not change significantly either at the calf or near the ankle. The mean volume changes measured between min 2 and min 15 were, at the calf, -1.1 (SEM 0.1)%, -0.8 (SEM 0.2)%, and -0.02 (SEM 0.1)% at 20, 28 and 36 degrees C, respectively. Near the ankle the mean changes were -0.7 (SEM 0.1)%, -0.3 (SEM 0.1)%, and +0.2 (SEM 0.1)%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pathophysiologie und medizinische Klimatologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stick
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hiedl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Witzleb
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D001642:Bicycling; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D010991:Plethysmography; D011187:Posture; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D013696:Temperature