Description:
<jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives</jats:title><jats:p>To assess the efficacy of a leg exercise performed in supine position to prevent orthostatic hypotension (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OH</jats:styled-content>) in older adults.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Design</jats:title><jats:p>Case–control study.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Setting</jats:title><jats:p><jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">D</jats:styled-content>ivision of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">P</jats:styled-content>hysical <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">M</jats:styled-content>edicine and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">R</jats:styled-content>ehabilitation, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">S</jats:styled-content>alvatore <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">M</jats:styled-content>augeri <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">F</jats:styled-content>oundation, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">S</jats:styled-content>cientific <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">I</jats:styled-content>nstitute of <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">V</jats:styled-content>eruno, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">V</jats:styled-content>eruno, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">I</jats:styled-content>taly.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Participants</jats:title><jats:p>Individuals aged 65 and older admitted with degenerative joint disease screened (n = 90) and found positive for <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OH</jats:styled-content> (n = 42).</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Measurements</jats:title><jats:p>Systolic blood pressure (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SBP</jats:styled-content>), diastolic blood pressure (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DBP</jats:styled-content>), and heart rate (<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HR</jats:styled-content>) were recorded using an automatic oscillometric device in the supine position after 10 minutes of bed rest; immediately upon standing up; and after 1, 3 and 5 minutes standing. In 42 participants, a fall in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SBP</jats:styled-content> of 20 mmHg or more within 3 minutes of standing was found. Participants with <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">OH</jats:styled-content> were alternately assigned to the control or exercise group. The following day, both groups were reassessed as above. In the exercise group, before standing up, participants were required to perform 10 full extensions of the lower limbs, starting from 60° flexion of hip and 90° flexion of knee and ankle joints, against the resistance of an elastic band.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>In both participant groups, <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SBP</jats:styled-content>,<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case"> DBP</jats:styled-content>, and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HR</jats:styled-content> were similar in the supine position. When standing, the same decrease in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SBP</jats:styled-content> and <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DBP</jats:styled-content> and increase in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HR</jats:styled-content> occurred over a similar time‐course in both participant groups. The next day, the reduction in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SBP</jats:styled-content> was significantly smaller at each time interval after standing up in the exercise than in the control group, but no difference between the exercise and control groups was observed in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DBP</jats:styled-content> or <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">HR</jats:styled-content>.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>Supine leg exercise is effective in reducing an initial fall in <jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">SBP</jats:styled-content> when passing from a supine to an upright position in older adults. The duration of the effect requires further investigation.</jats:p></jats:sec>