Affiliations: [a] Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Wellington, New Zealand | [b] Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand | [c] Pacific Radiology, Wellington, New Zealand | [d] University of Otago, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Irene Braithwaite, Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, Private bag 7902, Wellington 6242, New Zealand. Tel.: +64 4 805 0245; Fax: +64 4 389 5707; E-mail:Irene.braithwaite@mrinz.ac.nz
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Prolonged sitting causes lower limb venous stasis. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect on lower limb venous blood flow of
the floor-based dome device (Legflow®) in healthy seated
adults. METHODS: In a randomised controlled trial, 10 participants sat on
an office chair. After 10 minutes, baseline popliteal vein flow was measured
by ultrasound. One limb was randomised to be mobilised over the
Legflow® device at 15 and 20 minutes while the other limb
remained immobile. The primary outcome variable was the difference in peak
systolic velocity (PSV) (cm/s), in the popliteal vein between the
Legflow®-mobilised and non-mobilised limb at 20 minutes,
assessed by mixed linear model adjusted for baseline flow. RESULTS: Mean (SD) PSV (cm/s) in the Legflow®-mobilised limb was 5.82 (1.59), and 63.3 (21.6) at baseline, and 20 minutes
respectively. Mean (SD) PSV (cm/s) in the immobile limb was 5.21 (1.45), and
4.58 (1.09) at baseline, and 20 minutes respectively. After 20 minutes, the
difference in mean (SD) PSV was 58.8 (21.5) cm/s greater in the
Legflow®-mobilised compared with immobile limb. The estimate
(95% CI) of the true difference in PSV between the Legflow®-mobilised
and immobile limb adjusted for baseline was 60.0 (44.6 to 75.3)
cm/s, P< 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Legflow®-mobilisation of the lower limb
while seated increases popliteal venous flow.
