Effects of graduated compression stockings on cardiovascular and metabolic responses to exercise and exercise recovery in persons with spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether reporting blood redistribution by means of graduated elastic stockings affects exercise and postexercise responses in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

DESIGN

Crossover trial.

SETTING

Physical medicine and rehabilitation department in France.

PARTICIPANTS

Fourteen men with traumatic SCI, grouped according to their level of injury.

INTERVENTIONS

Subjects performed 2 maximal wheelchair exercise tests 1 week apart, in random order and under a counter-balanced design. One test was done with and the other without graduated elastic stockings (21 mmHg).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Blood lactate, blood pressure, heart rate, maximal power output, and oxygen consumption (Vo2).

RESULTS

Postexercise venous lactate concentration was reduced in SCI subjects with lesion levels below T6 while wearing graduated elastic stockings during both exercise and recovery (10.9+/-3.9 mmol/L vs 12.5+/-4.6 mmol/L, P<.05). There were no significant differences in submaximal and maximal values (heart rate, Vo2, power output) between subjects tested with and without graduated elastic stockings.

CONCLUSIONS

Wearing elastic stockings affects postexercise responses by decreasing lactate concentration in well-trained, low-level paraplegic patients after a maximal exercise. The relatively low pressure generated by the stockings may not, however, influence the venous system enough to produce improved performance and cardiovascular responses.