Gradient compression garments protect against orthostatic intolerance during recovery from bed rest.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

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.

PURPOSE:

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: Michael B Stenger, Stuart M C Lee, L Christine Ribeiro, Tiffany R Phillips, Robert J Ploutz-Snyder, Michael C Willig, Christian M Westby, Steven H Platts
• Journal: European journal of applied physiology (Eur J Appl Physiol) Vol. 114 Issue 3 Pg. 597-608 (Mar 2014) ISSN: 1439-6327 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 24337701 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)

Topics

• Adult
• Bed Rest (methods)
• Blood Pressure (physiology)
• Cardiac Output (physiology)
• Compression Bandages
• Female
• Head-Down Tilt (physiology)
• Heart Rate (physiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Orthostatic Intolerance (physiopathology)
• Stroke Volume (physiology)