title: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation and an ottoman-type seat effectively improve popliteal venous flow in a sitting position.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the sitting posture on the lower limb venous flow and to explore the beneficial effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and an ottoman-type seat on the venous flow. Healthy adult volunteers without a history of lower limb surgery or thromboembolism were recruited, and the flow velocity, cross-sectional area, and flow volume of the popliteal vein were measured using Doppler ultrasound. A posture change from the prone position to the sitting position on the ottoman-type seat decreased the flow velocity and increased the cross-sectional area of the popliteal vein, and the flow volume was not altered over 120 min. The flow velocity was further decreased, and the cross-sectional area was further increased by subjects sitting on a regular driving seat when compared with the values obtained with an ottoman-type seat. The popliteal flow velocity in the NMES leg was significantly higher than in the non-NMES leg throughout the 120-min testing in the sitting position, but no difference in the cross-sectional area was found between the NMES and the non-NMES legs. Thus lower limb venous stasis elicited by the sitting posture was improved by the ottoman-type seat and NMES.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu, Japan. morita@cc.gifu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Chikara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Kunihiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiratori
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oguri
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D011152:Popliteal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography