Peripheral Circulation, Sedentary Behavior, Vascular Function
Conditions
Keywords
Buerger-Allen Exercise, Peripheral Circulation, Sedentary Behavior, Office Workers, Capillary Refill Time, Ankle-Brachial Index, Infrared Thermography, Physiotherapy
Brief summary
This study aims to evaluate the acute effects of Buerger-Allen exercises on lower extremity circulation in sedentary office workers. Prolonged sitting is associated with reduced venous return, impaired peripheral circulation, and endothelial dysfunction. Buerger-Allen exercises are simple position-based exercises designed to enhance arterial blood flow, venous return, and tissue perfusion. Thirty-five healthy sedentary adults aged 18 to 45 years will participate in this single-group pretest-posttest clinical trial. Skin surface temperature, capillary refill time, ankle-brachial index, peripheral oxygen saturation, and heart rate will be measured before and after a single 20-minute exercise session. The findings may support the use of Buerger-Allen exercises as a practical, low-cost physiotherapy strategy to improve peripheral circulation and reduce the adverse vascular effects of prolonged sitting.
Detailed description
Sedentary behavior and prolonged sitting are associated with impaired venous return, reduced peripheral blood flow, endothelial dysfunction, and increased cardiovascular risk. Office workers who remain seated for extended periods may experience lower extremity discomfort, edema, and early circulatory impairment. Buerger-Allen exercises are position-based therapeutic exercises that involve sequential elevation, dependency, and horizontal rest of the lower limbs. These exercises are designed to promote arterial inflow, facilitate venous return, and enhance tissue perfusion without requiring specialized equipment. Previous studies have demonstrated beneficial effects in patients with peripheral vascular disease and diabetes, but evidence regarding their acute effects in healthy sedentary adults is limited. This study will use a quasi-experimental single-group pretest-posttest design to investigate the immediate effects of Buerger-Allen exercises on lower extremity circulation in sedentary office workers. A total of 35 participants aged 18 to 45 years will be recruited from Istanbul Gelisim University. All participants will complete a standardized 20-minute Buerger-Allen exercise protocol. Primary outcome measures will include skin surface temperature assessed with infrared thermometry, capillary refill time, ankle-brachial index, peripheral oxygen saturation, and heart rate. Measurements will be performed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 10 minutes after the intervention. The study is expected to provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of a simple and low-cost physiotherapy intervention for improving peripheral circulation and preventing the adverse vascular effects associated with prolonged sedentary behavior.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALBuerger-Allen Exercise Program
The intervention consists of a standardized Buerger-Allen exercise protocol involving three sequential positions: (1) elevation of the lower limbs above heart level to facilitate venous return, (2) dependency of the lower limbs to promote arterial blood flow, and (3) horizontal supine rest to stabilize circulation. The complete exercise session lasts approximately 20 minutes and is performed once. Lower extremity circulatory parameters are assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 10 minutes after the intervention.
Sponsors
Istanbul Gelisim University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
All participants will undergo a single standardized Buerger-Allen exercise session. Lower extremity circulatory parameters will be assessed before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and 10 minutes after the intervention.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy sedentary office workers * Age between 18 and 45 years * Sitting for at least 6 hours per day for work-related activities * Not meeting regular physical activity recommendations * Willing to participate voluntarily and provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* History of peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis, or other vascular disorders * Cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal conditions that may affect lower extremity circulation or prevent exercise participation * Diabetes mellitus * Current smoking * Pregnancy * Use of medications that may significantly affect peripheral circulation * Lower extremity injury or surgery within the previous 6 months * Participation in regular structured exercise programs
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Skin Surface Temperature | Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention | Skin surface temperature measured with an infrared thermometer in degrees Celsius (°C). Higher values indicate increased peripheral blood flow and tissue perfusion. |
| Capillary Refill Time | Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention | Capillary refill time measured in seconds. Shorter times indicate improved peripheral microcirculation and tissue perfusion. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) | Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention | Ratio of ankle to brachial systolic blood pressure used to assess lower extremity arterial circulation. Higher values within the normal range indicate better arterial perfusion. |
| Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂) | Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention | Oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry and expressed as a percentage (%). Higher values indicate improved peripheral oxygenation. |
| Heart Rate | Baseline, Immediately After Intervention, and 10 Minutes After Intervention | Heart rate measured by pulse oximetry and expressed in beats per minute (bpm). |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
CONTACTBusenur KARAGÖZ, MSc
CONTACTGökay ÇAKIROĞLU, PT
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBusenur KARAGÖZ, MSc
İstanbul Gelisim University
Outcome results
None listed