ABSTRACT

　The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of several levels of pressureapplied to the knee during standing and low intensity exercise on lower leg swellingvolume and sensation. In experiment A, eight healthy women standing upright had cuff pressure applied to their knees at 10, 20, 30, and 40 mmHg or without cuff for 20 minutes. The swelling volume and sensation were measured at the beginning and the end of the standing session. In experiment B, nine healthy women in a standing position had cuff pressure applied to their knees at 20 and 40 mmHg or without cuff during 20 minutes of step exercise. The cuff was removed immediately after that and the women remained standing for 20 minutes. As a result, leg and foot volume at the end of the standing session were significantly greater after 40 mmHg pressure compared with the other conditions in both experiments A and B. In experiments A, the swelling sensation was not significantly different between conditions. In experiment B,the swelling sensation at the end of the standing session under 40 mmHg pressure was significantly lower compared with 20 mmHg（ P<0.05）, but not compared with the no cuff condition. The lower leg and foot volume and swelling sensation under the no cuff condition tended to increase at the end compared with baseline in both experiments A and B. These results suggested that a pressure of less than 40 mmHg on the knees during standing and step exercise can help prevent lower leg and foot swelling.

DECENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.40/The DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE