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| Influences of Inflation Rate and Duration on Vasodilatory Effect by Intermittent Pneumatic Compression in Distant Skeletal Muscle |
| Source: Liu K, Chen LE, Seaber AV, et al: Journal of Orthopaedic Research 17(3): 415-420, 1999 |
| Summary: This study examined the influences of inflation rate and peak-pressure duration on the vasodilatory effects of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC). Asymmetrical compression was applied to the legs (rat cremaster model), with inflation to 55 mmHg. Inflation rate and peak inflation time were adjustable. The data demonstrated that "intermittent pneumatic compression with a faster inflation rate [less than 1 second] caused a much greater increase in vessel diameter than did compression with a slower inflation rate… Once the peak pressure is attained, increasing the duration of inflation does not facilitate this [vasodilatory] effect. The mechanism for this phenomenon appears to be related to the magnitude of shear stress during rapid inflation of the compression, which stimulates the vascular endothelium to release nitric oxide, causing systemic vasodilation". |