Effect of Lower Body Positive Pressure on Fluid Turnover in Human Legs

抄録

We have developed a device for walking rehabilitation which has a treadmill in a lower body positive pressure (LBPP) chamber to unload the lower extremities. In this review, we summarize the present knowledge of effects of gravity, LBPP, and walking on leg fluid turnover in standing human. Prolonged standing caused swelling in the legs due to an effect of hydrostatic pressure. Circumferences of leg gradually increased during standing still and reached a plateau level after 30-40 minutes. Exposure to LBPP significantly improved the swelling in the thigh, suggesting that the LBPP possibly reduces fluid filtration by decreasing transmural pressure gradient in the capillaries and/or increases lymphatic outflow from the tissue. Walking also decreased the leg swelling by muscle pump activity, and this effect was further enhanced by applying LBPP. These results suggest that applying LBPP can change the body fluid turnover, resulting in a decrease in the tissue fluid of the legs in standing and walking human.