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Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 10/2018

01-10-2018 | Original Article

Prolonged standing increases lower limb arterial stiffness

Authors: Aaron R. Caldwell, Kaitlin M. Gallagher, Benjamin T. Harris, Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell, Marcus Payne, Bryce Daniels, Matthew S. Ganio

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 10/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

Standing workstations have recently been promoted as a healthy alternative to sitting. However, it is unknown how prolonged standing affects arterial stiffness, a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study was twofold: to observe changes in arterial stiffness, as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), with a 2-h bout of standing, and to determine if short, intermittent walking bouts provide a comparative advantage to standing alone.

Methods

Nineteen adults had arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity. Central (CPWV), upper peripheral (UPWV), and lower peripheral (LPWV) PWV were assessed before (supine), during standing (min 10, 60, and 120), and after (supine) the 2-h standing bout. In one trial, the participants stood at a standing desk immobile for 2 h. In the other trial, participants performed 5-min walking breaks after every 25 min of standing.

Results

After 2-h of standing, supine (85.8 ± 90.1 cm/s) and standing (303.4 ± 390.2 cm/s), LPWV increased independent of trial (i.e., main effect of time; p < 0.001). Walking breaks during 2 h of standing did not significantly attenuate these changes. In addition, standing CPWV decreased over time (− 38.5 ± 61.5 cm/s; p = 0.04). Yet, UPWV, standing or supine, did not change over the course of standing (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings indicate that prolonged standing increases the measures of arterial stiffness and there is no evidence that walk breaks attenuate this response.
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Metadata
Title
Prolonged standing increases lower limb arterial stiffness
Authors
Aaron R. Caldwell
Kaitlin M. Gallagher
Benjamin T. Harris
Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell
Marcus Payne
Bryce Daniels
Matthew S. Ganio
Publication date
01-10-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 10/2018
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3956-2

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