Monitoring calf circumference: changes during prolonged constrained sitting. Issue 4 (3rd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rigby, Laura; Frey, Mona; Alexander, Kara-lyn; De Carvalho, Diana
• Is Part Of: Ergonomics. Volume 65:Issue 4(2022)
• Page Start: 631
• Page End: 641
• Publication Date: 2022-04-03
• Subjects: Calf circumference -- prolonged sitting -- lower limb -- electromyography -- walking; Human engineering -- Periodicals; Cybernetics -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Periodicals; Ergonomie -- Périodiques; Cybernétique -- Périodiques; Gestion d'entreprise -- Périodiques; 620.8205
• DOI: 10.1080/00140139.2021.1979660
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-0139

Abstract

Abstract: Prolonged sitting has been associated with negative health effects; however, short-term time-varying exposure and response data is lacking. Twenty-two young and healthy participants were seated for 2 hours with the instruction to avoid the confounding effects of large leg movements while calf circumference, perceived discomfort, and lower limb muscle activity were collected. Calf circumference increased significantly (0.90 ± 0.32 cm) during sitting with no statistical differences between sexes. Perceived discomfort increased significantly over time in the low back and gluteal regions ( p = 0.001–0.072, η p 2 =0.080–0.360). On average, it took 20.31 ± 10.87 minutes of walking for calf measures to return to pre-sitting baseline. These results suggest that sitting for 2 hours without activity breaks may not be advisable and that recovery may take longer than expected. The exposure/response data from this study may be helpful in the design of future studies, with a larger and more general population, aiming to better define recommended duration/activity ratios for sitting-focused occupations. Practitioner summary: Leg swelling is a concern in prolonged sitting. In this study of young, healthy participants, we found a 2 hour constrained sitting exposure (controlling for large leg movements) induced significant increases in calf circumference that took an average of 20.31 ± 10.87 min of walking to return to baseline. Abbreviations: FMD: flow-mediated dilation, GSC: gastrocnemius; TA: tibialis anterior; EMG: electromyography; VAS: visual analog scale; MVC: maximum voluntary contractions.