Effects of Inverted Gravity Traction at Various Angles on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Lactic Acid Concentration

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Gravity traction is a widely used conservative procedure, and several studies using various techniques have reported changes in blood pressure (BP) or heart rate (HR) or stress variables in the head-down tilting position, with varying results. The purpose of this study was to investigate BP, HR and serum lactic acid (LA) responses to inverted gravity traction at six angles. METHODS: Thirty volunteers (males 15, females 15) were assigned randomly to either of two experimental groups. After the resting BP, HR and LA concentration were measured in the sitting position, they were measured repeatedly at standing, supine, and inverted at -30, -60 and -90 degrees every 2.5 minute. RESULTS: Compared to the systolic BP (SBP) at sitting, SBP decreased at standing and at inverted -30degrees and increased at -60degrees and -90degrees in the males group, whereas SBP decreased at supine to inverted -60degrees and increased at -90degrees in the females group. Compared to the diastolic BP (DBP) at sitting, DBP diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased at standing to -60degrees in both groups and increased at inverted -90degrees. Compared to HR at sitting, HR decreased at supine to -90degrees in both groups. The results of the post hoc test comparisons showed that the SBP, DBP, and HR differed significantly at all six positions. However, compared to serum LA at sitting, LA at all positions were not significantly different in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: As seen in previous research, our results showed increases in BP and HR at inverted -90degrees. However, BP and HR at the other inverted positions including supine showed decreases. LA did not change significantly at any of the positions. Finally, our study showed that angles above -30degrees or -60degrees can benefits the cardiovascular system in young people.