Effect of Lower Leg Air Compression on Systemic Blood Pressure

Given the critical role of blood pressure monitoring in clinical settings and the widespread use of compression therapy, it is important to clarify whether and how leg compression devices influence blood pressure. PURPOSE: To examine blood pressure and heart rate responses to intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC). METHODS: Participants (n=21, age=24.3±8.0 yrs, ht=164.1±7.4 cm, wt=69.5±15.2 kg) reclined on a chair and rested for 5 minutes after which blood pressure and heart rate was measured using an Omron automatized device. An air compression therapy boot was used on the right and left legs using a circulation mode on the maximum setting for 30 minutes, during which every 10 minutes blood pressure and heart rate was measured and recorded during a compression phase. After 30 minutes the boots were removed and participants rested for another 5 minutes before taking the final blood pressure and heart rate measurements. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to identify differences between time points, with Alpha set at .05. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure between any of the time points (F(4,17)=1.01, p=0.426), nor in diastolic blood pressure between any of the time points (F(4,17)=1.26, p=0.321). Likewise, there were no significant differences in heart rate between any of the time points (F(4,17)=0.80, p=0.539). CONCLUSION: Intermittent leg compression has no acute influence on blood pressure or heart rate responses using this device. Results support the growing evidence that use of IPC devices in the general population is unlikely to result in acute modulation of blood pressure.