Effects of graduated compression stockings on cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise and exercise recovery in persons with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether reporting blood redistribution by means of graduated elastic stockings affects exercise and postexercise responses in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Crossover trial.


METHODS
Physical medicine and rehabilitation department in France.


METHODS
Fourteen men with traumatic SCI, grouped according to their level of injury.


METHODS
Subjects performed 2 maximal wheelchair exercise tests 1 week apart, in random order and under a counter-balanced design. One test was done with and the other without graduated elastic stockings (21 mmHg).


METHODS
Blood lactate, blood pressure, heart rate, maximal power output, and oxygen consumption (Vo2).


RESULTS
Postexercise venous lactate concentration was reduced in SCI subjects with lesion levels below T6 while wearing graduated elastic stockings during both exercise and recovery (10.9+/-3.9 mmol/L vs 12.5+/-4.6 mmol/L, P<.05). There were no significant differences in submaximal and maximal values (heart rate, Vo2, power output) between subjects tested with and without graduated elastic stockings.


CONCLUSIONS
Wearing elastic stockings affects postexercise responses by decreasing lactate concentration in well-trained, low-level paraplegic patients after a maximal exercise. The relatively low pressure generated by the stockings may not, however, influence the venous system enough to produce improved performance and cardiovascular responses.
Rimaud
Diana
D
Unité de Recherche Physiologie et Physiopathologie de l'Exercice et Handicap, Université Jean Monnet, and Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Hôpital Bellevue, Saint Etienne, France. diana_rimaud@hotmail.com
Calmels
Paul
P
Roche
Frédéric
F
Mongold
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Trudeau
François
F
Devillard
Xavier
X
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D053828:Stockings, Compression
D019344:Lactic Acid