Swell-preventing effect of intermittent exercise on lower leg during standing work

This study investigated the effectiveness of several possible exercises for performance during standing work in order to prevent lower leg swelling and relieve subjective complaints. Volume changes in the lower leg were measured using bioelectrical impedance plethysmography in 13 healthy male subjects aged 23-36 years. Subjective complaints of leg pain, leg dullness and whole body fatigue were also recorded. Measurements were performed at two-minute intervals during a one-hour period of standing with insertions of one-minute of exercise every 10 min. The exercises were knee-bending, foot-stepping, walking, and heel-raising. The change rates of impedance over one hour were 2.2%, 4.0%, 4.6%, and 6.3%, respectively, indicating that leg volume was increased under all exercise conditions. Among exercises, the swell-preventing effect of knee-bending was strongest, and that of heel-raising was weakest. Heel-raising also yielded the highest number of subjective complaints. Knee-bending, which uses the thigh and calf muscles simultaneously, was considered the most effective for suppressing lower-leg swelling and minimizing subjective complaints.