Does wave reflection explain the increase in blood pressure during leg crossing?

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Leg crossing is a common posture with potential cardiovascular implications.
• Understanding its effect on hemodynamics, including wave reflection, is important for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of knee-level leg crossing on wave reflection, quantified by the augmentation index.
• To determine if changes in blood pressure during leg crossing are mediated by alterations in wave reflection.

Main Methods:

• Forty-two participants sat with legs crossed at the knee for 12 minutes.
• Augmentation index and blood pressure (BP) were measured using SphygmoCor and an oscillometric device, respectively.
• Measurements were taken before, during, and after leg crossing to assess changes in peripheral and central BP and augmentation index.

Main Results:

• Leg crossing led to a significant increase in both peripheral and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
• No significant change was observed in the augmentation index during leg crossing.
• Peripheral and central blood pressures were similarly affected by leg crossing.

Conclusions:

• The observed increase in blood pressure during leg crossing is not attributable to altered wave reflection.
• Leg crossing at the knee does not significantly influence the augmentation index.
• Both central and peripheral blood pressure are equally affected by the leg-crossing posture.