title: Effects of compression stockings on sympathetic activity and heart rate variability in individuals with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether wearing graduated compression stockings (GCS) could affect the sympatho-adrenergic and heart rate variability (HRV) responses at rest and after a strenuous wheelchair exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Crossover trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Saint Etienne, France.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine men with SCI (five with low paraplegia: LP, four with high paraplegia: HP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Two maximal wheelchair  exercise tests: with and without GCS (21 mmHg).
  
  
  METHODS
  HRV measurements: high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and LF/HF ratio. Norepinephrine (NOR) and epinephrine (EPI), at rest and post-exercise. Secondary measures were: blood pressure, heart rate,  maximal power output, oxygen uptake, stroke volume, cardiac output, at rest, during and after exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When wearing GCS: LFnu(wavelet-post) significantly increased and HFnu(wavelet-post) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in  SCI subjects, leading to an enhance ratio of LF(wavelet)/HF(wavelet) and a significantly increased in NOR(rest) (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GCS induces an enhanced sympathetic activity in individuals with paraplegia, regardless  of the level of the injury. Enhanced post-exercise sympathetic activity with GCS may help prevent orthostatic hypotension or post-exercise hypotension.
authors.affiliation: Service de Medecine Physique et de Readaptation, CHU Bellevue, Saint Etienne, France. diana_rimaud@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rimaud
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Calmels
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pichot
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bethoux
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Roche
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine