title: Gradient compression garments protect against orthostatic intolerance during recovery from bed rest.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abdomen-high, lower body graded compression garments (GCGs) may represent the next-generation of orthostatic intolerance protection with applications for exploration missions and commercial space flight.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of the GCG to prevent orthostatic intolerance after a 14-day 6° head-down tilt bed rest (BR) and to determine whether wearing thigh-high compression garments impairs recovery from BR.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen (12 M, 4 F) subjects participated in a 15-min 80° head-up tilt test 5 day before BR (BR-5), on the last morning of BR (BR+0), and on day 1 (BR+1) and 3 after BR (BR+3). No subjects wore the GCG on BR-5, and all subjects wore the GCG during testing on BR+0. Control subjects (n = 8) wore the GCG only through testing on BR+0. Treatment subjects (n = 8) wore the GCG on BR+0 and thigh-high garments on BR+1 and BR+2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No subjects were presyncopal during tilt on BR+0 while wearing the GCG. Despite lower plasma volume index (BR-5: 1.52 ± 0.06, BR+0: 1.32 ± 0.05 l/m(2)), the tilt-induced increase in heart rate (ΔHR, 17 ± 2 bpm) and decrease in stroke volume (ΔSV, -28 ± 3 ml) on BR+0 were less than on BR-5 (24 ± 2 bpm, -43 ± 4 ml). On BR+1 ΔHR in the control group (33 ± 4 bpm) was higher than in the treatment group (23 ± 2 bpm) but there were no group differences on BR+3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wearing the GCG prevented the orthostatic intolerance that is normally present after BR. Thigh-high garments provided protection after BR, and wearing these garments did not impair recovery.
authors: Wyle Science, Technology and Engineering Group, 1290 Hercules Ave, Houston, TX, 77058, USA, michael.b.stenger@nasa.gov.
authors: Michael B
authors: MB
authors: Stenger
authors: Stuart M C
authors: SM
authors: Lee
authors: L Christine
authors: LC
authors: Ribeiro
authors: Tiffany R
authors: TR
authors: Phillips
authors: Robert J
authors: RJ
authors: Ploutz-Snyder
authors: Michael C
authors: MC
authors: Willig
authors: Christian M
authors: CM
authors: Westby
authors: Steven H
authors: SH
authors: Platts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001510:Bed Rest / Q000379:methods; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D058128:Compression Bandages; D005260:Female; D018475:Head-Down Tilt / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054971:Orthostatic Intolerance / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology