Influence of body posture on maximum calf blood flow in reactive hyperemia.

Reactive hyperemia in the calf after arresting femoral blood flow for 3 min was measured by means of strain gauge plethysmography in different postures, i.e. supine, sitting with legs resting horizontally (sitting I), and sitting with the feet on the ground (sitting II). Blood flow in the calf at rest and hyperemia decreased more in the sitting I and II positions than in the supine position. However, the peak flow of the reactive hyperemia was higher in the sitting I and II positions than in the supine position.