Original scientific paper
Oscillometric examinations of the lower extremities circulation at working places with various body postures·- with special regard to standing postures
V. Mandić
; Ortopedska klinika Medicinskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
Standing postures at work endanger the dinamic balance in the complicated mechanism of venous return from the lower extremities to the heart. The author's investigations have been aimed at establishing:
l. whether there exist changes of blood supply of the lower extremities in standing, sitting and walking postures at work, and
2. whether the changes can be registered during a working shift.
The oscillometric method has been used in the examinations. Measurements were made in the course of a systematic orthopaedic survey in a printing-works. Oscillometric values were recorded at the beginning and at the end of the shift. Out of 306 examined persons only 162 workers with a normal vascular system (including normal heart action) were taken into consideration. 70 of them occupied at work a continuously standing posture, 50 of them a constantly sitting posture, and 42 a walking posture. The results have shown that there exist a decrease of oscillometric values of the lower extremities in standing postures, which amounts to MD= - 12, 74 on the right, to MD = - 11,94 on the left (v. Recklinghausen's scala alternans) and is sitatistically significant (Student-Fisher t-test). In walking postures there is a slow increase (MD= - + 1,88 on the right, MD= + 2,83 on the left), and in sitting postures a decrease (MD = - 9,70 on the right, MD = - 9,16 on the left). The author concludes that standing postures at work exert a negative influence on the venous blood return from the lower extremities and that the noxious effect during a shift may be objectively recorded by the decrease of the oscillometric index.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
180449
URI
Publication date:
21.9.1964.
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