Phlebology > Volume 24, Number 1 > Pp. 21-25

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Original Articles

Rate of occupational leg swelling is greater in the morning than in the afternoon

C E Q Belczak ^* , J M P de Godoy , R N Ramos , M A de Oliveira , S Q Belczak  and R A Caffaro ^**

^* Santa Casa Medicine School in Sao Paulo (FCMSCSP), Professor of the Lymphovenous Rehabilitation Post-graduation Course of the Medicine School in Sao Jose do Rio Preto (FAMERP); Livre Docente, Medicine School of São Jose do Rio Preto (FAMERP) and CNPq Researcher; João Belczak Vascular Centre, Maringá, Paraná; Fourth-year resident in Vascular Surgery, Hospital das Clínicas, University of São Paulo (USP); ^** Vascular Surgery Section, Medicine School of the Santa Casa of São Paulo (FCMSCSP), Brazil

Correspondence: C E Q Belczak, Centro Vascular João Belczak – Av. Tiradentes, 1081 Maringá, Brazil. CEP 87013-260. Email: belczak{at}wnet.com.br

The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of occupational leg swelling depending on the time period of the working day. Volumetric variations of the legs of 70 hospital employees, enrolled in three groups, were evaluated. Group I: 35 morning shift workers; Group II: 35 afternoon shift workers; and Group III: 15 individuals randomly selected from Groups I and II, who were evaluated on the day they worked 12 hours consecutively. Volumetry was performed before and after each shift for both legs of the participants in Groups I and II. For Group III volumetry was performed early in the morning, at noon and in the evening. For statistical analysis, the Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney test were used with an alpha error of 5% being considered acceptable (P value < 0.05). Significant increases in volume were recorded for the limbs in all three groups (P value < 0.001). On comparing Groups I and II, the accumulation of fluids was significantly higher in the morning than in the afternoon (P value < 0.003). Asymptomatic workers may present with oedema of the legs during their work with the rate of oedema being different for morning and afternoon shifts. The possibility of wearing compression stockings should be considered for this type of work.

Key Words: oedema • occupational oedema • leg swelling

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