HAeMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF SQUATTING DURING RECOVERY FROM EXERTION

Abstract

Measurements of the effect of squatting on blood flow in the legs showed a mean reduction of about 25% and this is thought to be mainly the result of obstruction of venous return. Measurements of the effect of squatting on percentage O2 saturation of arterial blood during recovery from exercise in patients who were habitual squatters showed that squatting caused O2 saturation to begin rising from the moment exercise ended. Squatting apparently impedes venous return from the legs and therefore minimizes the tendency of arterial O2 saturation to fall with exercise in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease, and this explains the tendency of these subjects to squat for periods of 2 to 10 minutes when they become tired and breathless as a result of effort.