Effect of Garment Pressure on Peripheral Skin Blood Flow(SBF)

To well understand the effect of garment pressure on skin blood flow(SBF) at lower limb,external pressures of various magnitudes were exerted on lower limb in supine or sitting postures respectively using sphygmomanometer.Five male subjects volunteered to participate in this study.An alternating pressure loading protocol between non-pressure and pressure was employed.The SBF was observed by laser flowmeter.No matter the subjects being sitting or supine,SBF obviously increased under low pressure;as the pressure increasing,it turned to decrease.Moreover,while lying supine,SBF turned to decrease under lower pressure than sitting;SBF at calf turned to decrease under lower pressure than at ankle.It was also confirmed that the increment of SBF was obviously higher when the pressure of the same magnitudes was exerted at ankle than at calf.The pressure around 5.32 kPa was confirmed to be a crucial value to SBF.The findings will be helpful in design and application of tight-fit garments.