Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers

Background: Wearing compression socks increases mean deep venous velocity, reduces venous blood retention, and improves venous return. However, no existing studies reported their effect on arteries. Thus, we aimed to determine whether wearing compression socks decreases brachial-ankle pulse wave vel...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kosuke Morinaga, Masako Nakahara, Kotaro Matsuura, Shigekazu Ishihara, Yasuhiro Idobata, Takafumi Kobata, Toshio Tsuji
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000842
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832573190093668352
author Kosuke Morinaga
Masako Nakahara
Kotaro Matsuura
Shigekazu Ishihara
Yasuhiro Idobata
Takafumi Kobata
Toshio Tsuji
author_facet Kosuke Morinaga
Masako Nakahara
Kotaro Matsuura
Shigekazu Ishihara
Yasuhiro Idobata
Takafumi Kobata
Toshio Tsuji
author_sort Kosuke Morinaga
collection DOAJ
description Background: Wearing compression socks increases mean deep venous velocity, reduces venous blood retention, and improves venous return. However, no existing studies reported their effect on arteries. Thus, we aimed to determine whether wearing compression socks decreases brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV). Methods: We compared ba-PWV measurements in 106 participants (40 men and 66 women) under three conditions: bare feet, wearing normal socks, and wearing compression socks for 10 min. Mean arterial blood pressures (MAPs) were measured at the upper arms and ankles on both sides. Sensor cuffs were attached over socks to estimate pressures exerted on arterial walls by the socks in the condition of wearing socks. Results: Tukey's honestly significant difference test showed that PWVs for the compression sock condition were significantly lower than those for bare feet (95 % confidence intervals: 0.3051–0.9478 [right], 0.3454–0.9889 [left], p < 0.0001 on both sides) and normal sock conditions (0.0126–0.6552, 0.0656–0.7092, p < 0.04 on both sides). The mean ba-PWV of the right side decreased from 10.57 m/s (bare feet) to 9.94 m/s (compression socks) [absolute difference: 0.63 m/s; relative difference: 5.96 %]. The left-sided mean ba-PWV decreased from 10.79 m/s (bare feet) to 10.11 m/s (compression socks) [absolute difference: 0.67 m/s; relative difference: 6.21 %]. We observed no significant differences in PWVs between bare feet and normal sock conditions on either side. In the compression sock condition, the difference between upper-arm and ankle MAPs while wearing socks indicated the pressure exerted on the arterial wall by the compression socks. We found significant negative correlations between ba-PWV and the estimated pressure exerted on the arterial wall at both ankles (regression analysis, F(1, 104) = 10.55, p < 0.02) [right], F(1, 104) = 12.92, p < 0.0005 [left]). Conclusions: Wearing compression socks reduced ba-PWV, indicating increased arterial compliance in lower limb arteries by applying external pressure to the arterial wall.
format Article
id doaj-art-ff08019d7eca4da689f2422dd5c85224
institution Kabale University
issn 2405-8440
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Heliyon
spelling doaj-art-ff08019d7eca4da689f2422dd5c852242025-02-02T05:27:59ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01112e41704Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteersKosuke Morinaga0Masako Nakahara1Kotaro Matsuura2Shigekazu Ishihara3Yasuhiro Idobata4Takafumi Kobata5Toshio Tsuji6Graduate School of System Cybernetics, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan; Department of Assistive Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan; Corresponding author. Graduate School of System Cybernetics, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan.Department of Medical Technology, Hiroshima International University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan; Corresponding author.Graduate School of System Cybernetics, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, JapanDepartment of Assistive Rehabilitation, Hiroshima International University, Higashi-Hiroshima, JapanKNITIDO CO.,LTD., Kainan, JapanKNITIDO CO.,LTD., Kainan, JapanGraduate School of System Cybernetics, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Japan; Corresponding author.Background: Wearing compression socks increases mean deep venous velocity, reduces venous blood retention, and improves venous return. However, no existing studies reported their effect on arteries. Thus, we aimed to determine whether wearing compression socks decreases brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV). Methods: We compared ba-PWV measurements in 106 participants (40 men and 66 women) under three conditions: bare feet, wearing normal socks, and wearing compression socks for 10 min. Mean arterial blood pressures (MAPs) were measured at the upper arms and ankles on both sides. Sensor cuffs were attached over socks to estimate pressures exerted on arterial walls by the socks in the condition of wearing socks. Results: Tukey's honestly significant difference test showed that PWVs for the compression sock condition were significantly lower than those for bare feet (95 % confidence intervals: 0.3051–0.9478 [right], 0.3454–0.9889 [left], p < 0.0001 on both sides) and normal sock conditions (0.0126–0.6552, 0.0656–0.7092, p < 0.04 on both sides). The mean ba-PWV of the right side decreased from 10.57 m/s (bare feet) to 9.94 m/s (compression socks) [absolute difference: 0.63 m/s; relative difference: 5.96 %]. The left-sided mean ba-PWV decreased from 10.79 m/s (bare feet) to 10.11 m/s (compression socks) [absolute difference: 0.67 m/s; relative difference: 6.21 %]. We observed no significant differences in PWVs between bare feet and normal sock conditions on either side. In the compression sock condition, the difference between upper-arm and ankle MAPs while wearing socks indicated the pressure exerted on the arterial wall by the compression socks. We found significant negative correlations between ba-PWV and the estimated pressure exerted on the arterial wall at both ankles (regression analysis, F(1, 104) = 10.55, p < 0.02) [right], F(1, 104) = 12.92, p < 0.0005 [left]). Conclusions: Wearing compression socks reduced ba-PWV, indicating increased arterial compliance in lower limb arteries by applying external pressure to the arterial wall.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000842Compression socksBrachial-ankle pulse wave velocityLower limb arteries
spellingShingle Kosuke Morinaga
Masako Nakahara
Kotaro Matsuura
Shigekazu Ishihara
Yasuhiro Idobata
Takafumi Kobata
Toshio Tsuji
Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers
Heliyon
Compression socks
Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity
Lower limb arteries
title Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers
title_full Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers
title_fullStr Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers
title_short Assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers
title_sort assessing the acute effect of compression socks on improving arterial compliance in young volunteers
topic Compression socks
Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity
Lower limb arteries
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000842
work_keys_str_mv AT kosukemorinaga assessingtheacuteeffectofcompressionsocksonimprovingarterialcomplianceinyoungvolunteers
AT masakonakahara assessingtheacuteeffectofcompressionsocksonimprovingarterialcomplianceinyoungvolunteers
AT kotaromatsuura assessingtheacuteeffectofcompressionsocksonimprovingarterialcomplianceinyoungvolunteers
AT shigekazuishihara assessingtheacuteeffectofcompressionsocksonimprovingarterialcomplianceinyoungvolunteers
AT yasuhiroidobata assessingtheacuteeffectofcompressionsocksonimprovingarterialcomplianceinyoungvolunteers
AT takafumikobata assessingtheacuteeffectofcompressionsocksonimprovingarterialcomplianceinyoungvolunteers
AT toshiotsuji assessingtheacuteeffectofcompressionsocksonimprovingarterialcomplianceinyoungvolunteers