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Breaking of Sitting Time Prevents Lower Leg Swelling

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Edema Leg
Interventions
Behavioral: Sit-to-stand transitions
Behavioral: Uninterrupted motionless sitting
Behavioral: Uninterrupted motionless standing
Registration Number
NCT05173558
Lead Sponsor
Faculdade de Motricidade Humana
Brief Summary

Sitting or standing during a prolonged and uninterrupted period of time is related to negative health outcomes, such as lower extremity swelling. It is unknown if interrupting sedentary behavior by including brief bouts of standing up to the sitting time can attenuate lower leg swelling. Thus, our purpose is to examine if breaking sitting time by adding sit-to-stand transitions attenuates or even prevents lower leg swelling, compared with uninterrupted motionless standing and uninterrupted motionless sitting, using localized bioelectrical impedance raw parameters.

Detailed Description

Increased sedentary behavior has deleterious effects on cognitive function, mental health, physical function, disability as well as quality-of-life. Nowadays, prolonged sitting time has been introduced into many situations such as transportation and in the workplace. Staying in the same position (e.g., sitting/standing) for a long and uninterrupted period is associated with poorer health-outcomes, increasing the risk for premature mortality. For instance, sitting for a long period of time has been associated with lower limbs edema. This condition causes discomfort and pain, in turn associated with a lower quality-of-life.

The literature shows that interruption of prolonged sitting time has a positive impact in several health-related risk factors. However, no studies analyzed the effects of motionless sitting with brief standing bouts on lower leg swelling. Thus, the aim of this study is to examine and to compare the effects of standing, sitting and sit-to-stand transitions on lower leg swelling using localized bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) measurements A crossover randomized experiment was performed among 20 healthy individuals \[age: 27.5±5.9y, 47% females\]. In this study, the participants performed the 3 conditions (randomly ordered): 1) uninterrupted motionless standing; 2) uninterrupted motionless sitting; 3) sit-to-stand transitions (1 minute sitting followed by 1 minute standing). Before each condition, a 10-min resting period was performed. Total fat and fat-free mass were determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Localized resistance (R), reactance (Xc), impedance (Z) and phase angle (PhA) were assessed at the baseline, at 10 min and at 20 min for each condition.

The researchers hypothesized that interrupting a prolonged sitting position with sit-to-stand transitions will result in greater muscle pump, preventing lower leg swelling.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
20
Inclusion Criteria
  • BMI ranging between 18.5 to 29.9 kg/m2;
  • Not taking any medications at the time of the measurements;
  • All women should have a (self-reported) regular menstrual cycle.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Self-reported inability to stand for 20min without moving the lower limbs
  • An active smoking status
  • Presence of diabetes

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
CROSSOVER
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sit-to-stand transitionsSit-to-stand transitions20 minutes of sit-to-stand transitions (1 minute sitting with 1 minute standing)
Uninterrupted motionless sittingUninterrupted motionless sitting20 minutes of uninterrupted motionless sitting
Uninterrupted motionless standingUninterrupted motionless standing20minutes of uninterrupted motionless standing
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Reactance (Ohm)8 weeks

The bioimpedance AKERN BIA 101/BIVA PRO was used to assess physical parameters. Akern is a phase-sensitive device that measures phase angle (PhA) and impedance (Z), and then calculates reactance (Xc).

Phase Angle (º)8 weeks

The bioimpedance AKERN BIA 101/BIVA PRO was used to assess physical parameters. Akern is a phase-sensitive device that measures phase angle (PhA).

Resistance (Ohm)8 weeks

The bioimpedance AKERN BIA 101/BIVA PRO was used to assess physical parameters. Akern is a phase-sensitive device that measures phase angle (PhA) and impedance (Z), and then calculates resistance (R).

Impedance (Ohm)8 weeks

The bioimpedance AKERN BIA 101/BIVA PRO was used to assess physical parameters. Akern is a phase-sensitive device that measures impedance (Z).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fat Free Mass (kg)8 weeks

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic Explorer-W, Waltham, USA) was used to determine fat-free mass (FFM). A whole-body scan was performed, and the attenuation of X-rays pulsed between 70 and 140kV synchronously with the line frequency for each pixel of the scanned image was measured

Weight (kg)8 weeks

Weight was measured in bathing suit and no shoes to the nearest 0.01kg using a weight scale.

Fat mass (kg)8 weeks

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA; Hologic Explorer-W, Waltham, USA) was used to determine total fat mass (FM). A whole-body scan was performed, and the attenuation of X-rays pulsed between 70 and 140kV synchronously with the line frequency for each pixel of the scanned image was measured.

Heart Rate (bpm)8 weeks

Heart rate was measured (seated and bipedal) right before the start of each protocol. During the experimental condition, heart rate was measured every 5 minutes.

Height (cm)8 weeks

Height was measured in bathing suit and no shoes to the nearest 0.1cm using a a stadiometer (Seca, Hamburg, Germany), respectively.

Blood pressure (mmHg)8 weeks

Blood pressure was measured (seated and bipedal) right before the start of each protocol. During the experimental condition, blood pressure was measured every 5 minutes.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Faculdade de Motricidade Humana

🇵🇹

Oeiras, Cruz-Quebrada, Portugal

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