Wearing graduated compression stockings augments cutaneous vasodilation in heat-stressed resting humans.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether graduated compression induced by stockings enhances cutaneous vasodilation in passively heated resting humans.


METHODS
Nine habitually active young men were heated at rest using water-perfusable suits, resulting in a 1.0 °C increase in body core temperature. Heating was repeated twice on separate occasions while wearing either (1) stockings that cause graduated compression (pressures of 26.4 ± 5.3, 17.5 ± 4.4, and 6.1 ± 2.0 mmHg at the ankle, calf, and thigh, respectively), or (2) loose-fitting stockings without causing compression (Control). Forearm vascular conductance during heating was evaluated by forearm blood flow (venous occlusion plethysmography) divided by mean arterial pressure to estimate heat-induced cutaneous vasodilation. Body core (esophageal), skin, and mean body temperatures were measured continuously.


RESULTS
Compared to the Control, forearm vascular conductance during heating was higher with graduated compression stockings (e.g., 23.2 ± 5.5 vs. 28.6 ± 5.8 units at 45 min into heating, P = 0.001). In line with this, graduated compression stockings resulted in a greater sensitivity (27.5 ± 8.3 vs. 34.0 ± 9.4 units °C-1, P = 0.02) and peak level (25.5 ± 5.8 vs. 29.7 ± 5.8 units, P = 0.004) of cutaneous vasodilation as evaluated from the relationship between forearm vascular conductance with mean body temperature. In contrast, the mean body temperature threshold for increases in forearm vascular conductance did not differ between the Control and graduated compression stockings (36.5 ± 0.1 vs. 36.5 ± 0.2 °C, P = 0.85).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that graduated compression associated with the use of stockings augments cutaneous vasodilation by modulating sensitivity and peak level of cutaneous vasodilation in relation to mean body temperature. However, the effect of these changes on whole-body heat loss remains unclear.
Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8574, Japan.|Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Naoto
N
Fujii
Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8574, Japan.
Toshiya
T
Nikawa
Faculty of Human Culture and Science, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan.
Bun
B
Tsuji
Faculty of Human Development, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
Narihiko
N
Kondo
Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
Glen P
GP
Kenny
Institute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8574, Japan. nishiyasu.takeshi.fw@u.tsukuba.ac.jp.
Takeshi
T
Nishiyasu
D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D018882:Heat Stress Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D053828:Stockings, Compression; D014664:Vasodilation
Baroreceptors; Central blood volume; Compression garments; Heat stroke; Thermoregulation