Improve vascular function by taking a walk around the office
Posted on: 01/Oct/2015 9:54:54 AM
A study published in the journal Experimental Physiology says that employees who walk around the office for 10 minutes can have better vascular health that those who sat at their desks for 8 hours. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri`s School of Medicine.
Researchers studied the vascular function of 11 healthy men before and after prolonged sitting. Results showed that the blood flow in an artery in the lower leg, called the popliteal, was low. Then, the participants were made to take a short walk. Results showed that just 10 minutes of walking restored the impaired vascular function and improved blood flow.
Said one of the researchers, (We) observed that when employees sit for six straight hours, or the majority of an eight-hour work day, blood flow to the legs was greatly reduced... When one has decreased blood flow, the friction of the flowing blood on the artery wall, called shear stress, is also reduced, which appear to be detrimental and reduce the ability of the artery to dilate, a sign of vascular health.
